Richard Webb

Admiral Sir Richard Webb (20 July 1870 – 20 January 1950) was a British Royal Navy officer. Early life and career Webb was born in Holt, Norfolk, England. He joined the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in July 1883. As a Midshipman, he served in the battleship HMS Alexandra, alongside Midshipman David Beatty and several other future admirals, and then the corvette HMS Carysfort, both in the Mediterranean. He was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in December 1889 and promoted lieutenant in December 1891. In September 1893 he qualified as a gunnery officer and then served as a gunnery officer in the battleships HMS Magnificent with the Channel Fleet and HMS Ramillies in the Mediterranean. On 1 January 1902 he was promoted commander, and in June that year joined the cruiser HMS Ariadne, flagship of the North America and West Indies Station. In July 1905 he transferred to her successor, HMS Royal Arthur and in May 1906 to her successor, HMS Euryalus. Command In January 1907, Webb was promoted captain and joined the staff of the Royal Naval War College in Portsmouth. In January 1909 he was given command of the light cruiser HMS Amethyst on the North America station. In 1911 he returned to the War College as flag captain to Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Jackson. In 1913 he briefly commanded the battleship HMS Illustrious, flagship of the 7th Battle Squadron. In August 1913 he was posted to the Admiralty in London and on the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he was appointed Director of the Trade Division of the Naval Staff. In this capacity he was responsible for liaison with the Merchant Marine, the naval blockade of Germany, and the control of neutral shipping. For his services he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1915 New Year Honours.