Edmund Poë

Poë was born on September 11, 1849, in Ireland. His father was William Thomas Poe, a barrister. One of his older brothers was the soldier and politician Sir William Hutcheson Poë.[1] Another older brother, George Leslie Poë, became a Royal Navy Captain.[2]

Educated at the Burney's Royal Naval Academy, Gosport, Poë joined the Royal Navy in 1862.[3] In April 1864, he was appointed to HMS Bombay as a midshipman,[4] and was serving on board when the ship caught fire and sank off Montevideo in December 1864 with the loss of 92 crew.[5]

In May 1875, while serving as a lieutanant on HMS Newcastle, Poë jumped overboard to rescue a man who had fallen into the sea. For this he was awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society; he rescued another man who'd fallen into the sea in October 1876.[1]

He was made Naval Advisor to the Inspector-General of Fortifications in 1889 and Commander of the Training Squadron in 1897.[3] Promoted to Commodore 2nd Class by 1899 he commanded the Cruiser Squadron until 1900. In September 1901 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral.[6] He went on to be Second in command of the Home Fleet in 1903 and Rear-Admiral Commanding 1st Cruiser Squadron in 1904.[3] He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station in 1905, Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station in 1907 and Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in 1910.[3] Finally was appointed First and Principal Aide-de-Camp to the King in 1912 and retired on September 11, 1914.[3][1]

In 1877 he married Frances Catherine Sheil.[7] They had two sons and a daughter.[1]