David Beatty 1st Earl Beatty

David Beatty Beatty, 1st Earl , 1871-1936, British admiral. He served with distinction in Egypt and Sudan (1896-98) and in the Boxer Uprising (1900) in China. Made rear admiral in 1910, he commanded successful naval actions early in World War I at Helgoland Bight (1914) and at Dogger Bank (1915). His battle cruiser squadron lured the German fleet into position for an engagement with the British grand fleet under Admiral John Jellicoe at the battle of Jutland (1916). Beatty commanded (1916-19) the fleet and was (1919-27) first sea lord of the navy. He was created Earl Beatty in 1919.

Beatty, David, 1st Earl Beatty (b. 17 Jan. 1871, d. 11 Mar. 1936). British admiral Born in Stapeley, Cheshire, he became a cadet in the Royal Navy in 1884. His service in Egypt and during the Boxer Rebellion in China (1900) earned him rapid promotion. In 1913, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, ensured that he was given command of the navy's battle-cruiser squadron. His major role was in the 1916 Battle of Jutland. He was then appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Grand Fleet, and received the German Grand Fleet's surrender at Scapa Flow in November 1918. As First Sea Lord (1919–27) he reduced the navy to peacetime strength. Together with Jellicoe, his role at Jutland has been severely criticized, as he was accused of being rash, and of failing to train his command adequately.

Beatty, Sir David, later 1st Earl Beatty (1871–1936). Admiral. In 1914 Beatty was one of the youngest admirals in the Royal Navy, and, as commander of the battle‐cruiser squadron of the Grand Fleet, held one of the navy's most prestigious appointments. He led the battle‐ cruisers at the Dogger Bank and Jutland, where he lost three of his ships. Beatty was a demonstrative, flamboyant, and aggressive commander. In December 1916 he succeeded Jellicoe as commander of the Grand Fleet. But despite his own criticisms of Jellicoe's lack of aggression at Jutland, he pursued the same strategy designed to keep the German surface fleet bottled up. At the end of the war he was appointed 1st sea lord, a post he held until 1927.