Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg

Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg was born in Graz, Austria in 1854. Settling in Britain as a boy, he was naturalized as a British subject, and in 1868, entered the Royal Navy as a cadet. Advancing to midshipman and later lieutenant, he served on the North American and West Indies station and during the Egyptian War. Promoted commander in 1885 and captain in 1891, he was selected as naval adviser to the inspector-general of fortifications in 1892, remaining in that post until 1894 when he was appointed joint secretary of the Naval and Military Committee on Defence.

Battenberg was captain of HMS Majestic, the flagship of the Channel squadron, when Robert Falcon Scott was appointed torpedo lieutenant in the summer of 1897. In 1900, he was made assistant-director of Naval Intelligence, retaining that position until 1905, when he began his career as admiral at sea, having advanced to rear admiral the previous year.

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