The Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Plymouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the admiral's command. Between 1845 and 1896, this office was renamed Commander-in-Chief, Devonport. The Commanders-in-Chief were based in what is now Hamoaze House, Devonport, Plymouth, from 1809 to 1934 and then at Admiralty House, Mount Wise, Devonport, from 1934 until 1996.
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History
The post dates back to around 1743. It extended along the South Coast from Exmouth in East Devon to Penzance in Cornwall. In 1845, this office was renamed as Commander-in-Chief, Devonport, until 1896, when it was altered back to its original name. In 1941, during World War II, elements of Plymouth Command were transferred to Western Approaches Command which was established at Derby House in Liverpool. Meanwhile, Plymouth Command occupied a new combined Headquarters, known as the Maritime Headquarters, at Mount Wise. The post of Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, was merged with that of Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, in 1969, to form Naval Home Command. Between 1952 and 1969, the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, double-hatted as Plymouth Sub-Area Channel Command (PLYMCHAN) commander in NATO's Allied Command Channel, and from 1969 to 1994, he double-hatted as Naval Base Commander Devonport, NATO Commander Central Sub-Area (CENTLANT) and Commander Plymouth Sub-Area Channel (PLYMCHAN).
After 1969, Admiralty House and the Maritime Headquarters became the home of the Flag Officer, Plymouth, until that post was also disbanded in 1996. At around the same time the nearby RN Dockyard and barracks were reconstituted as HM Naval Base Devonport and placed under the command of a Commodore.
Office holders
Commanders-in-Chief and Flag Officers have included:
N = died in post
Jul 1747 – Aug 1747 Rear-Admiral Edward Hawke
Jun 1756 – Jul 1756 Captain George Brydges Rodney
1761 – 1763 Vice-Admiral Philip Durell
Jan 1763 – Jun 1763 Vice-Admiral Lord Colville
1763 – 1766 Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Pye
1766 – 1770 Vice-Admiral Sir George Edgcumbe
1771 – 1774 Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Spry
1774 – 1778 Vice-Admiral John Amherst N
1778 – 1783 Vice Admiral Sir Molyneux Shuldham
1783 – 1786 Vice Admiral Mark Milbanke
1786 – 1790 Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Graves
1790 – 1792 Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton N
1792 – 1793 Rear-Admiral Phillips Cosby
1793 – 1794 Vice-Admiral Rowland Cotton N
1794 – 1796 Vice-Admiral Sir Richard King
1796 – 1799 Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Onslow
1799 – 1801 Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley
Post 1969 period
On 30 December 1970, Vice-Admiral J R McKaig CBE was appointed as Port Admiral, Her Majesty's Naval Base, Devonport, and Flag Officer, Plymouth. On 5 September 1971, all Flag Officers of the Royal Navy holding positions of Admiral Superintendents at Royal Dockyards were restyled as Port Admirals.