Peter Abbott


Sir Peter Abbott

Then-Rear Admiral Peter Abbott on board Invincible class aircraft carrier
Born(1942-02-12)12 February 1942
New Delhi, British India
Died28 September 2015(2015-09-28) (aged 73)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Navy
Years of service1964โ€“2001
RankAdmiral
Commands
Battles / warsFalklands War
Awards
Other workCommissioner of Commonwealth War Graves

Sir Peter Charles Abbott (12 February 1942 โ€“ 28 September 2015) was a Royal Navy officer and Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom.

Early life

Abbott was born on 12 February 1942.[1] He was educated at St. Edward's School, Oxford before going on to Queens' College, Cambridge.[2]

Military career

Abbott was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1964.[3] He commanded the minesweeper HMS Chawton from 1972 to 1975 and then joined the staff of the Senior Naval Officer in the West Indies.[3]

He became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Ambuscade in 1976, second-in-command of the aircraft carrier HMS Bulwark in 1980 and the Chief of Defence Staff's briefer during the Falklands War in 1982.[3] He then became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Ajax as well as captain of the 1st Frigate Squadron in 1983.[3]

He became Director of Navy Plans in 1985 and, having been promoted to rear admiral, he was appointed Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1989.[3] He was made Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in 1991 and, having been promoted to vice admiral, was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in 1993.[3] He became Commander-in-Chief Fleet and, having been promoted to admiral in 1995, he became Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in 1997.[3]

Later life

In retirement, Abbott was made Chairman of the Trustees of the Royal Naval Museum.[4] He was also President of MSSC, governing charity of the Marine Society and the Sea Cadets.[5]

He died of cancer on 28 September 2015.[6][7]

Honours and decorations

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) 1999[8]
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) 1994[9]
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States) 1995[10]

References

  1. ^ "Abbott, Adm. Sir Peter (Charles)". Who's who 1998 : an annual biographical dictionary. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1998. ISBN 0312175914.
  2. ^ Queens' College e-bulletin for the 1960 Anniversary Celebration Invitation Dinner Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Admiral Sir Peter Abbott Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Debretts
  4. ^ "Royal Naval Museum". Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  5. ^ MSSC โ€“ Who's who
  6. ^ "Abbott". The Telegraph. London. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Admiral Sir Peter Abbott - obituary". 20 October 2015. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  8. ^ "No. 55354". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1998. p. 5.
  9. ^ "No. 53696". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1994. p. 2.
  10. ^ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003