Hedworth Meux

Sir Hedworth Meux
Meux as a vice admiral
Born	5 July 1856 London
Died	20 September 1929 (aged 73) Danebury, Hampshire
Buried at	St Mary's Church, Cheshunt
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1870–1916
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet
Commands held	HMS Dolphin HMY Osborne HMS Warspite HMS Powerful HMY Victoria and Albert II Third Cruiser Squadron China Station Portsmouth Command
Battles/wars	Anglo-Egyptian War Second Boer War First World War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Admiral of the Fleet The Honourable Sir Hedworth Meux GCB, KCVO (pronounced Mews), formerly Hedworth Lambton (5 July 1856 – 20 September 1929) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he was present at the bombardment of Alexandria during the Anglo-Egyptian War.

In 1899, during the Second Boer War, Lambton stopped at Mauritius, and on his own initiative picked up a battalion of soldiers stationed there. Knowing that the British forces at Ladysmith urgently needed more powerful guns, Lambton led a naval brigade to the rescue with four twelve-pounders and two other guns. The enthusiastic response in Britain to the "heroes of Ladysmith" was enormous and made Captain Hedworth Lambton a well-known public figure. He went on to be Commander of the Third Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet and then Commander-in-Chief of the China Station.

During the First World War Meux, as he was then known, served as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in which role his main responsibility was defending cross-Channel communications, including transport for the British Expeditionary Force crossing to France. He also initiated and organised a life-saving patrol service of small boats.

Born the son of George Lambton, 2nd Earl of Durham and Lady Beatrix Frances Hamilton (daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn), Hedworth Lambton was educated at Cheam School and then joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in the training ship HMS Britannia on 15 January 1870. He joined the frigate HMS Endymion in the Channel Squadron in December 1871 and, having been promoted to midshipman, he transferred to the armoured frigate HMS Agincourt, flagship of the Channel Squadron. He joined the frigate HMS Undaunted at Sheerness in March 1875 and, having been promoted to sub-lieutenant on 20 September 1875, he transferred to the battleship HMS Alexandra, flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet in late 1876. Promoted to lieutenant on 27 February 1879, he became flag lieutenant to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in February 1880 and was present at the bombardment of Alexandria in July 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War. He was awarded the Turkish Order of the Medjidie, Third Class, on 3 February 1883.