The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-19
HISTORY OF ADMIRAL
SIR HENRY JACKSON AN
INTERESTING ONE
(By Associated Press }


London, June 19.-Admiral Sir
Henry Jackson, who has just sue
ceeded Lord Fisher as first sea lord
of the British Admiralty, has long
been known here as "the cleverest
man in the navy" He is the only
naval officer who has been honored
with election as a Fellow of the
Royal Society, this high scientific
honor falling to him in 1901 for his
researches in electrical physics.
Admiral Jackson was one of the
earliest experimenters in wireless
biography, and was associated for
many years with Mr.. Marconi. He
is specialist also in naval torpedoes.
He has only once in his career CON-
manded group of ships at sea.
Just past sixty years of age, the
new Sea Lord is younger by fourteen
years than his predecessor He en-
tered the navy in 1868 and at first
specialized in navigation Eut the
Possibilities of the torpedo. which
had only been invented IN very
crude form in 1865, exercised a fas-
cnation over him, and he soon
transferred to that branch of the SER
vice.
The only vessel ON which he ever
served as navigating officer was an
old battleship, to which was appoint
ed on the same day young lieuten-
ant, John Jellicoe, now Commander
in-Chief of the war staff
Specializing in torpedoes, Admiral
Jackson attained a wide knowledge,
both practical and theoretical, OF
electricity, for the torpedo officer OF
modern ship is responsible for the
efficiency of the whole of the elec-
trical equipment of the vessel. 1t
was in 1891 that the idea Of en-
ploying Hertzian waves as a means
OF communication first suggested it.
self to him. At that time the navy
was seeking for some method by
which torpedo boat could announce
Its approach to a friendly ship. Fol-
iour years he continued his expert
ments in wireless communication !.
fnough the necessities of the service
nave prevented the full story of his
works being given to the world, it is
known that at the end of that time
ne had succeeded in sending mes
sages from one end of his ship to
'ne other without wires. About this
1ime he met Marconi, and the two
became close friends, mutually as
asting each other in developing
'neir ideas and schemes.
Sir Henry remained responsible
'or the progress of wireless telegra-
pny in the navy until 1906 when he
0ecame a rear admiral. During these
'ears his appointments were such as
70 facilitate the experiments and re-
search work which he pursued and
which won him many scientific hon.
ors.
lie then served for some time as
eontroller of the navy, being thus re-
eponsible for the material of the
navy during the laying of the epoch
laklng battleships Dreadnought and
.aVlncible. He was one of the
,our captains on the committee OF
uesign which recommended the con-
fuetion of those ships.
In 1911 he was selected to COM
aand the new Naval War College al
eortsmouth, being transferred after
"o years to the post of chief of the
var stan. At the beginning of the
european war he was ASSIGNED to
special work at the admiralty, his
PARTICULAR task being the direction
the naval part of the operations
'sainst Germany's oversee colonies.
ne was promoted to be full ad-
mitai Just a year ago.