wounded in the lung, and had to resign his command. Advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 31 March 1874, he was appointed a Groom in Waiting to the Queen on 26 May 1874. Promoted to rear admiral on 12 November 1876, Commerell became second-in-command of the Mediterranean Fleet, with his flag in the armoured frigate HMS Agincourt, in July 1877. This was a time of great tension in the region with the Russo-Turkish War at its peak. He then became Junior Naval Lord in the Second Disraeli ministry in December 1879 where he sat until the Government fell in May 1880. In the 1880 general election he stood unsuccessfully for parliament at Southampton. Promoted to vice admiral on 19 January 1881, Commerell became Commander in Chief, North America and West Indies Station, with his flag in the armoured cruiser HMS Northampton, in November 1882. At the 1885 general election he was elected Member of Parliament for the Southampton seat, which he held until he resigned from the House of Commons on 15 May 1888. As a member of parliament he lobbied hard for the Naval Defence Bill. Promoted to full admiral on 12 April 1886, Commerell became was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 21 June 1887 and became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in June 1888. He was appointed a Groom in Waiting to the Queen again on 31 December 1891. Commerell was promoted to admiral of the fleet on 14 February 1892, advanced to the Turkish Order of the Medjidie, first class on 5 March 1894 and retired in January 1899. On 4 February 1901 he was made a Grand Cross of the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle. He died at his home at Rutland Gate in London on 21 May 1901 and was buried at Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone. Edmund Rock and Commerell Point in British Columbia, Canada, were named in his honour. His Victoria Cross is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London. Family In 1853 Commerell married Matilda Bushby; they had three daughters. His brother, William, was a first-class cricketer. References Sources External links William Loney Career History |- |- |- 1829 births 1901 deaths Military personnel from London Burials in Kent British military personnel of the Third Anglo-Ashanti War Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Conservative Party (UK) MPs for