Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1891 — ENGLAND’S ACED ADMIRAL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ENGLAND’S ACED ADMIRAL.

Sir Provo Wallis Has Been Going to Sea and Fighting lor Eighty-seven Years. Sir Provo William Parry Wallis, the senior Admiral of the British fleet, celebrated his hundredth birthday on Sunday last, and is still in the service. In no other country in the world would such a thing be possible, and it has never occurred in England before. The old man is still hale and hearty and, to all appearances, likely to enjoy life for some time longer. He has drawn pay from the navy for ninety-six years, has been actually in the service for ninety of these, and it is eightv-seven years since he first went to sea. He was horn at Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 12. 171*1, while his father was stationed there as chief clerk of the navy yard, and, according to a custom then prevailing in the case of sons of officers or people of influence, was placed on the pay roll of oneof the vessels of the navy w hen he was but 4 years old. In 1800. when 9, he went aboard the Cleopatra for training, and four years later made his first voyage in her. The Cleopatra, after a fight in midocean, was captured by the French frigate Ville de Milan, but was rescued by another British vessel a week later. In 1808, at the age of seventeen, he was made a Second Lieutenant, and was in many actions during the French war. He was Second Lieutenant of the Shannon when that frigate defeated the Chesapeake in the famous fight off Boston

harbor in 1813. The Captain having been wounded aud the First Lieutenant killed, the command of the frigate and her prize devolved upon young Wallis. He was promoted for his gallantry and efficiency in this action, and in 18i9 was made a Captain. The dates of his promotion after this were as follows: Bear Admiral, 1851; Vice Admiral, 1857; Admiral, 1863; and Admiral of the Fleet, 1877. It was only by the special order of the Queen that he was retained in the service after he had attained the age of seventy, at which the rule requires retirement. This was on account of the exceptional length and character of his service. He wa3 created a G. C. B. in 1873.

ADMIRAL SIR PROVO WILLIAM PARRY WALLIS.