John Jellicoe

John Jellicoe was born in Southampton in 1859 in Cranbury Terrace. He was educated at Bannister Court and joined the Navy at 12. He became a Captain in 1897 and was wounded near Peking during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900.

He became Commander of the Grand Fleet in 1914 and engaged with the German Fleet at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916. He became First Sea Lord in 1917 but a quarrel with Prime Minister Lloyd George led to his dismissal in 1918.

From 1920-24 he was Governor of New Zealand and was created Earl Jellicoe in 1925. On 8th September 1925 he opened the Dock Board offices at Town Quay and was also present at the opening of the first phase of the Civic Centre in 1932. He died in 1935 and is buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.