Edmond Slade

Born the son of Rev George Fitzclarence Slade (1831–1904) (a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and the 11th son of General Sir John Slade), Edmond Slade joined the Royal Navy in 1872. He was appointed to HMS Northumberland as a midshipman in 1874. Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 1878, Lieutenant in 1879 and Commander in 1894, he commanded Cocktrice, a paddle gunboat stationed in the Danube to represent Great Britain on the Danube Commission in January 1895.[1]

In 1898 he commanded the sloop HMS Algerine in China. Promoted to Captain in December 1899,[2] he commanded the cruiser HMS Diana in the Mediterranean from April 1902.[3] When the King visited Malta in 1903 Slade was appointed MVO.[4] He was made Commander of the Royal Naval War College in 1904 and Director of Naval Intelligence in 1907.[1]

Promoted Rear-Admiral in 1908,[5] he represented the Admiralty at the International Maritime Conference (December 1908 to February 1909) which resulted in the Declaration of London. He became Commander in Chief, East Indies Station in 1909. He was appointed KCIE in 1911[6] and in 1912 when the King and Queen visited India for the Durbar he was also appointed KCVO.[7]

In 1913 he was sent by Winston Churchill to investigate purchasing a 51% stake in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. The expedition gave a positive report and the British Government bought a 51% stake in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company just before the outbreak of the First World War. As part of the agreement the Government had the right to appoint two directors, and Slade became one of these, a position he held until his death.[1]

He retired from the Navy with the rank of full Admiral on 1 September 1917.

In 1887 Edmond married Florence Madeleine, eldest daughter of Mr James Carr Saunders of Milton Heath, Dorking (but born in Reigate, Surrey in 1870), and had two daughters: Rhona Warre and Madeline Warre Slade.[8]