Harry Holdsworth Rawson was born in 1843 at Walton-on-Hill, Lancashire. He entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1857, serving in the China War between 1858 and 1861. In 1863 he was promoted lieutenant, advancing to commander in 1871 and captain in 1877, before serving in Egypt and Cyprus. Promoted rear-admiral in 1892, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station in 1895, a post he held until 1898 when promoted vice-admiral. Between 1898 and 1901, he commanded the Channel Squadron and, in 1902, was appointed governor of New South Wales. He was knighted in 1897 and promoted admiral in 1903. He died in 1910.
From the guide to the Sir Harry Rawson collection, 1904-1907, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)
