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[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Sir Alexander Buller''' [[Order of the Bath|GCB]] (30 June 1834 – 3 October 1903) was a [[Royal Navy]] officer who went on to be [[China Station|Commander-in-Chief, China Station]].
[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Sir Alexander Buller''' [[Order of the Bath|GCB]] (30 June 1834 – 3 October 1903) was a [[Royal Navy]] officer who went on to be [[China Station|Commander-in-Chief, China Station]].

== Early life ==

Alexander Buller was born on 30 June 1834, the second son of ''the Reverend'' Richard Buller, rector of [[Lanreath]], [[Cornwall]], and his wife, Elizabeth Hornby, daughter of John Hornby of [[Hook, Fareham|Hook]], near [[Titchfield]], [[Hampshire]]. His father was from a wealthy and well-connected family with a naval tradition; the rector's father, James Buller, was the younger son of John Buller, who owned [[Morval|Morval House]], near [[Looe]], Cornwall. This James Buller, who died in 1830, was a [[Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty|Lord of the Admiralty]] in 1811 and later a Clerk to the [[Privy Council]].<ref name=obit>[http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19031103.2.4.aspx "The Late Admiral Buller"], ''The Straits Times'', 3 November 1903, p. 2</ref> <ref>Burke, ''A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry'', 1871, vol. i, p. 171</ref>

The rectory had previously been occupied by his cousin, another Richard Buller, who had died in 1826<ref>Foster, ''Alumni Oxonienses: 1715-1886'', vol. i, p. 188</ref> and, having graduated from [[Oriel College, Oxford]] with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1826 (proceeding to Master of Arts in 1829), Richard Buller succeeded his cousin in 1829.<ref>Foster, ''Alumni Oxonienses: 1715-1886'', vol. i, p. 188</ref> He married his wife the following year and he appears to have brought his children up in the rectory, employing a nurse and later a governess to assist in their upbringing and tutoring.<ref>''Census of England and Wales'', 1841, Class: HO107, Piece: 153, Book: 7, Civil Parish: Lanreath, County: Cornwall, Enumeration District: 4, Folio: 17, Page: 1, Line: 4, GSU roll: 241274.</ref><ref>[http://www.oldrectory-lanreath.co.uk/house-history "House History"], ''oldrectory-lanreath.co.uk'' (accessed 6 August 2014).</ref>


==Naval career==
==Naval career==

Born the son of a clergyman, Buller joined the [[Royal Navy]] in 1848.<ref name=obit>[http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19031103.2.4.aspx The Late Admiral Buller] The Straits Times, 3 November 1903, Page 2</ref> He served in the [[Black Sea]] during the [[Crimean War]].<ref name=obit/> Promoted to Captain in 1869, he was given command of [[HMS Modeste (1873)|HMS ''Modeste'']] in 1874.<ref name=loney>[http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=1416 William Loney RN]</ref> Buller served in the [[Naval Brigade]] as part of the [[Perak War|Perak expedition]] to [[British Malaya|Malaya]] in 1875.<ref name=obit/> He became Admiral-Superintendent of [[Malta]] Dockyard in 1889.<ref name=obit/>
Buller joined the [[Royal Navy]] in 1848.<ref name=obit/> He served in the [[Black Sea]] during the [[Crimean War]].<ref name=obit/> Promoted to Captain in 1869, he was given command of [[HMS Modeste (1873)|HMS ''Modeste'']] in 1874.<ref name=loney>[http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=1416 William Loney RN]</ref> Buller served in the [[Naval Brigade]] as part of the [[Perak War|Perak expedition]] to [[British Malaya|Malaya]] in 1875.<ref name=obit/> He became Admiral-Superintendent of [[Malta]] Dockyard in 1889.<ref name=obit/>


He was appointed [[China Station|Commander-in-Chief, China Station]] in 1895.<ref name=loney/> Buller had to respond at this time to the Far Eastern Crisis of 1897/98 when the Russian Pacific Fleet was threatening to attack the [[Korea]]n port of [[Incheon|Chemulpo]] to back up Russia’s demands for a peacetime coaling station at Deer Island.<ref name=role>[http://www.ijnhonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/pdf_berryman.pdf British Imperial Defence Strategy and Russia: The Role of the Royal Navy in the Far East, 1878–1898]</ref> He dispatched eight warships to Korea and the Russian forces promptly retreated.<ref name=role/> The fact that the [[Japan]]ese Government had also put three [[battleship]]s and ten [[cruiser]]s at his disposal may have also influenced the outcome.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10A14FC3D5C11738DDDA10894D9405B8885F0D3 Japan's ships for Britain: A Fleet Placed at Admiral Buller's Disposal for Concerted Action Against Russia] New York Times, 8 January 1898</ref> He retired in 1899.<ref name=obit/>
He was appointed [[China Station|Commander-in-Chief, China Station]] in 1895.<ref name=loney/> Buller had to respond at this time to the Far Eastern Crisis of 1897/98 when the Russian Pacific Fleet was threatening to attack the [[Korea]]n port of [[Incheon|Chemulpo]] to back up Russia’s demands for a peacetime coaling station at Deer Island.<ref name=role>[http://www.ijnhonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/pdf_berryman.pdf British Imperial Defence Strategy and Russia: The Role of the Royal Navy in the Far East, 1878–1898]</ref> He dispatched eight warships to Korea and the Russian forces promptly retreated.<ref name=role/> The fact that the [[Japan]]ese Government had also put three [[battleship]]s and ten [[cruiser]]s at his disposal may have also influenced the outcome.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10A14FC3D5C11738DDDA10894D9405B8885F0D3 Japan's ships for Britain: A Fleet Placed at Admiral Buller's Disposal for Concerted Action Against Russia] New York Times, 8 January 1898</ref> He retired in 1899.<ref name=obit/>


==Family and later life==
He lived at Erle Hall near [[Plympton]] in [[Devon]]<ref>[http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/content/Moray1561.htm Earl of Moray]</ref> and died at Exford, Somerset, in 1903, aged 69.<ref>Obituary: Admiral Sir Alexander Buller, The Times, 5 October 1903</ref>
Admiral Buller married, in 1870, Emily Mary Tritton, a daughter of Henry Tritton of [[Beddington]], [[Surrey]], and had the following issue:<ref>Fox-Davies, ''Armorial Families'', 1929, p. 255</ref>

* Jane Elizabeth Buller (born 1871), who married, in 1892, Major [[Charles Turner (cricketer)|Charles Turner]] of the 49th Royal Berkshire Regiment.<ref>Fox-Davies, ''Armorial Families'', 1905, p. 183 ; see also 1881 Census (Class: RG11; Piece: 2199; Folio: 87; Page: 5; GSU roll: 1341529) for age then, and her corresponding birth index, Q4 1871, vol. 5b, p. 181 ; marriage notice in ''Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette'', 26 May 1892, p. 6.</ref>
* Admiral ''Sir'' [[Henry Buller|Henry Tritton Buller]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCVO|CB}} (1873 - 1960).<ref>Fox-Davies, ''Armorial Families'', 1929, p. 255</ref>
* Richard Edward Buller (1875 - 1921). Educated at [[Magdalene College, Cambridge]].<ref>Venn and Venn, ''Alumni Cantabrigienses'', 1940, vol. ii, pt. i, p. 441 ; ''Civil Registration Indices for England and Wales'', birth, Q1 1875, vol. 5b, p. 179.</ref>
* [[Rear Admiral]] Francis Alexander Waddilove Buller {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DSO|RN}} (born 1879) who married, in 1916, Mary Caroline, daughter of Stephen Hammick.<ref>Fox-Davies, ''Armorial Families'', 1929, p. 255 ; National Archives, [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7603248 ADM 196/44/465]</ref>
* [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] Herbert Cecil Buller (1882 - 1916) who was commissioned into Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and died at Hooge, France, on active service in the First World War.<ref>Fox-Davies, ''Armorial Families'', 1905, p. 183 ; bate of birth given therein as 1862 - this appears to be an error; in fact, he was born in 1882, as his birth records show (''Index of Civil Registration for England and Wales'', Births, Q1 1882, vol. 5b, p. 286). ''National Probate Calendar'', 1917 (listed as "of Erle Hall").</ref>
* Edward Maxwell Buller (1883 - 1931). Having fought in France during the First World War, he was discharged from the Army in 1917 due to him being "no longer physically fit for war service", and died at the nursing home at Minehead, Somerset.<ref>Fox-Davies, ''Armorial Families'', 1929, p. 255 ; WO364, Piece: 501. ; ''National Probate Calendar'' 1931.</ref>

Through his daughter, he became grandfather to two [[Victoria Cross]] winning brothers, [[Alexander Buller Turner]] and [[Victor Buller Turner]].<ref>''Yorkshire Evening Post'', 21 November 1942, p. 4, confirms they were brothers and that they were the sons of Major and Mrs Charles Turner; "Personal", ''Exeter and Plymouth Gazette'', 4 December 1942, p. 4, confirms their relation to the Admiral.</ref>


He inherited the estate of his uncle, Charles Reginald Buller, which included the family seat of Erle Hall,<ref name=obit/> and died at Exford, Somerset, in 1903, aged 69, having been taken ill while hunting.<ref>Obituary: Admiral Sir Alexander Buller, The Times, 5 October 1903</ref><ref name=obit/> King George V telegraphed the Admiralty to express his "deep regret" upon hearing of the news of Buller's death.<ref>''Aberdeen Journal'', 07 October 1903, p. 6</ref>
==Family==
In 1870 he married Emily Mary Tritton.<ref name=obit/> Through his only daughter, Jane Elizabeth, who married in 1892 Major [[Charles Turner (cricketer)|Charles Turner]],<ref name=kellys>{{cite book|title=Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes, 1926|publisher=Kelly's|page=1663}}Sketch on Charles Turner.</ref> he became grandfather to two [[Victoria Cross]] winning brothers, [[Alexander Buller Turner]] and [[Victor Buller Turner]].


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|2}}


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Revision as of 13:38, 6 August 2014

Sir Alexander Buller
Born30 June 1834
Died3 October 1903
Exford, Somerset
AllegianceVereinigtes Königreich Vereinigtes Königreich
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1848 - 1899
RankAdmiral
Commands heldHMS Modeste
China Station
Battles/warsCrimean War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Admiral Sir Alexander Buller GCB (30 June 1834 – 3 October 1903) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.

Early life

Alexander Buller was born on 30 June 1834, the second son of the Reverend Richard Buller, rector of Lanreath, Cornwall, and his wife, Elizabeth Hornby, daughter of John Hornby of Hook, near Titchfield, Hampshire. His father was from a wealthy and well-connected family with a naval tradition; the rector's father, James Buller, was the younger son of John Buller, who owned Morval House, near Looe, Cornwall. This James Buller, who died in 1830, was a Lord of the Admiralty in 1811 and later a Clerk to the Privy Council.[1] [2]

The rectory had previously been occupied by his cousin, another Richard Buller, who had died in 1826[3] and, having graduated from Oriel College, Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1826 (proceeding to Master of Arts in 1829), Richard Buller succeeded his cousin in 1829.[4] He married his wife the following year and he appears to have brought his children up in the rectory, employing a nurse and later a governess to assist in their upbringing and tutoring.[5][6]

Buller joined the Royal Navy in 1848.[1] He served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War.[1] Promoted to Captain in 1869, he was given command of HMS Modeste in 1874.[7] Buller served in the Naval Brigade as part of the Perak expedition to Malaya in 1875.[1] He became Admiral-Superintendent of Malta Dockyard in 1889.[1]

He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, China Station in 1895.[7] Buller had to respond at this time to the Far Eastern Crisis of 1897/98 when the Russian Pacific Fleet was threatening to attack the Korean port of Chemulpo to back up Russia’s demands for a peacetime coaling station at Deer Island.[8] He dispatched eight warships to Korea and the Russian forces promptly retreated.[8] The fact that the Japanese Government had also put three battleships and ten cruisers at his disposal may have also influenced the outcome.[9] He retired in 1899.[1]

Family and later life

Admiral Buller married, in 1870, Emily Mary Tritton, a daughter of Henry Tritton of Beddington, Surrey, and had the following issue:[10]

  • Jane Elizabeth Buller (born 1871), who married, in 1892, Major Charles Turner of the 49th Royal Berkshire Regiment.[11]
  • Admiral Sir Henry Tritton Buller GCVO CB (1873 - 1960).[12]
  • Richard Edward Buller (1875 - 1921). Educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge.[13]
  • Rear Admiral Francis Alexander Waddilove Buller DSO RN (born 1879) who married, in 1916, Mary Caroline, daughter of Stephen Hammick.[14]
  • Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Cecil Buller (1882 - 1916) who was commissioned into Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and died at Hooge, France, on active service in the First World War.[15]
  • Edward Maxwell Buller (1883 - 1931). Having fought in France during the First World War, he was discharged from the Army in 1917 due to him being "no longer physically fit for war service", and died at the nursing home at Minehead, Somerset.[16]

Through his daughter, he became grandfather to two Victoria Cross winning brothers, Alexander Buller Turner and Victor Buller Turner.[17]

He inherited the estate of his uncle, Charles Reginald Buller, which included the family seat of Erle Hall,[1] and died at Exford, Somerset, in 1903, aged 69, having been taken ill while hunting.[18][1] King George V telegraphed the Admiralty to express his "deep regret" upon hearing of the news of Buller's death.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Late Admiral Buller", The Straits Times, 3 November 1903, p. 2
  2. ^ Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 1871, vol. i, p. 171
  3. ^ Foster, Alumni Oxonienses: 1715-1886, vol. i, p. 188
  4. ^ Foster, Alumni Oxonienses: 1715-1886, vol. i, p. 188
  5. ^ Census of England and Wales, 1841, Class: HO107, Piece: 153, Book: 7, Civil Parish: Lanreath, County: Cornwall, Enumeration District: 4, Folio: 17, Page: 1, Line: 4, GSU roll: 241274.
  6. ^ "House History", oldrectory-lanreath.co.uk (accessed 6 August 2014).
  7. ^ a b William Loney RN
  8. ^ a b British Imperial Defence Strategy and Russia: The Role of the Royal Navy in the Far East, 1878–1898
  9. ^ Japan's ships for Britain: A Fleet Placed at Admiral Buller's Disposal for Concerted Action Against Russia New York Times, 8 January 1898
  10. ^ Fox-Davies, Armorial Families, 1929, p. 255
  11. ^ Fox-Davies, Armorial Families, 1905, p. 183 ; see also 1881 Census (Class: RG11; Piece: 2199; Folio: 87; Page: 5; GSU roll: 1341529) for age then, and her corresponding birth index, Q4 1871, vol. 5b, p. 181 ; marriage notice in Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 26 May 1892, p. 6.
  12. ^ Fox-Davies, Armorial Families, 1929, p. 255
  13. ^ Venn and Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses, 1940, vol. ii, pt. i, p. 441 ; Civil Registration Indices for England and Wales, birth, Q1 1875, vol. 5b, p. 179.
  14. ^ Fox-Davies, Armorial Families, 1929, p. 255 ; National Archives, ADM 196/44/465
  15. ^ Fox-Davies, Armorial Families, 1905, p. 183 ; bate of birth given therein as 1862 - this appears to be an error; in fact, he was born in 1882, as his birth records show (Index of Civil Registration for England and Wales, Births, Q1 1882, vol. 5b, p. 286). National Probate Calendar, 1917 (listed as "of Erle Hall").
  16. ^ Fox-Davies, Armorial Families, 1929, p. 255 ; WO364, Piece: 501. ; National Probate Calendar 1931.
  17. ^ Yorkshire Evening Post, 21 November 1942, p. 4, confirms they were brothers and that they were the sons of Major and Mrs Charles Turner; "Personal", Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 4 December 1942, p. 4, confirms their relation to the Admiral.
  18. ^ Obituary: Admiral Sir Alexander Buller, The Times, 5 October 1903
  19. ^ Aberdeen Journal, 07 October 1903, p. 6
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, China Station
1895–1897 		Succeeded by

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