ADMIRAL SIR ASTLEY COOPER KEY, K.C.B., F.R.S., D.C.L. (Oxon.), FIRST SEA LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY, ON of the late Charles Aston Key, Esq., by Anne, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Lovick Cooper, of Great Yarmouth, was born in 1821, and educated at the Naval College, Portsmouth, where he obtained the first medal and a lieutenant's commission in the navy, which he entered in 1835. He was junior lieutenant of the "Gorgon" in 1844, and was officially mentioned for rescuing her on being stranded at Monte Video. His book, descriptive of the operations which resulted in the recovery of the ship, displayed marked ability and clearness of thought. In 1845 he was wounded in the action of the Obligado, whilst in command of the "Fanny," and displayed a gallantry which earned his early promotion to commander's rank. After three years' service in the Bulldog" on the coasts of Italy and Sicily, he was made a captain in 1850. He served in command of the "Amphion" during the Baltic campaign, taking part in the capture of the forts of Bomarsund and other operations. When the honours were distributed he was nominated a C.B. (1855). Placed in command of the "Sans-pareil" and a squadron of gunboats, he served at Calcutta during the Indian Mutiny, and received the thanks of the Governor-General. Soon afterwards he commanded a battalion of seamen at the capture of Canton, where he secured with his own hand Commissioner Yeh, as he was in the act of escaping over a paling at the back of his yamun. On his return to England he was chosen to represent the navy on the Royal Commission appointed to consider the state of our defences; and in 1860 he became captain of the steam Reserve at Devonport. He passed to the "Excellent" in 1863, and found himself in first charge of the great development of the iron plate and heavy gun. The great changes in gunnery necessitated the creation of a new office at Whitehall, and Captain, afterwards Rear-Admiral Key filled the post of Director-General of Naval Ordnance until 1869, when he became Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard. He was next appointed second in command in the Mediterranean and Superintendent of Malta Dockyard; and was President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, from 1872 till 1876, when he became Commander-in-chief on the North America and West India Station. He was promoted Vice-Admiral in 1873, and appointed principal A.D.C. to the Queen in 1879. Sir A. Cooper Key has been since 1879 First Sea Lord of the Admiralty under two successive administrations. |