Definition
Admiral Sir Charles John Briggs KCB (15 July 1858 – 16 July 1951) was a senior officer of the British Royal Navy who served as Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy in the years preceding the First World War.
Overview
Born in Brentford, Essex, Briggs entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1872. He rose through the ranks, attaining the rank of captain on 22 June 1897. On 12 December 1901 he was appointed commander of the torpedo‑boat depot ship HMS Vulcan. In 1909 he became a rear admiral in the First Division of the Home Fleet. The following year he was appointed Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy, a post he held until 1912, after which he commanded the 4th Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet in 1913. Briggs retired from active service in 1917. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) for his distinguished service.
Etymology/Origin
The given name Charles is of Germanic origin, meaning “free man.” The surname Briggs is an English habitational name derived from the Old English word brycg meaning “bridge,” historically denoting a person who lived near a bridge or was responsible for its maintenance.
Characteristics
- Rank and Honors: Reached the rank of admiral; Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
- Key Appointments:
- Commander, HMS Vulcan (1901)
- Rear Admiral, First Division, Home Fleet (1909)
- Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy (1910‑1912) – responsible for materiel, ship design, and naval construction.
- Commander, 4th Battle Squadron, Home Fleet (1913)
- Service Period: Active during the late‑19th and early‑20th centuries, encompassing the First World War, though he retired before the war’s conclusion.
- Family: Married Frances Mary Wilson in 1901; the couple had three sons and three daughters.
Related Topics
- Royal Navy (United Kingdom)
- Admiralty and the Board of Admiralty
- Third Sea Lord (a senior post within the Admiralty)
- World War I naval operations
- HMS Vulcan (torpedo‑boat depot ship)
- 4th Battle Squadron, Home Fleet
- Sir John Jellicoe (predecessor as Third Sea Lord)
- Sir Gordon Moore (successor as Third Sea Lord)