Benjamin Bathurst ( Royal Navy officer ) Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Benjamin Bathurst , ( born 27 May 1936 ) is a former Royal Navy officer . After training as a pilot and qualifying as a helicopter instructor , Bathurst commanded a Naval Air Squadron and then a frigate before achieving higher command in the Navy . He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1993 to 1995 : in that capacity he advised the British Government on the deployment of Naval Support including Sea Harrier s during the Bosnian War . Early life . Bathurst is the son of Peter Bathurst and his wife Lady Elizabeth Ann Bathurst ( née Temple - Gore - Langton ) . Generally known by his middle name of Benjamin , Bathurst was educated at Eton and the Royal Naval College , Dartmouth . Naval career . Bathurst joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1953 and became a midshipman on 1 September 1955 . During his early career he served in the minesweeper HMS " Woolaston " and , following promotion to sub - lieutenant on 1 January 1957 and to lieutenant on 1 February 1959 , he qualified as a pilot in 1960 . He next served in the ship ' s flight on the destroyer HMS " Devonshire " and then qualified as a helicopter instructor in 1964 . He served as an exchange officer with the Royal Australian Navy in 1965 and , following promotion to lieutenant commander on 1 February 1967 , he became senior pilot of 820 Naval Air Squadron on the aircraft carrier HMS " Eagle " . He was given command of 819 Naval Air Squadron in February 1969 and then joined the Directorate of Naval Recruiting at the Ministry of Defence in early 1970 . Promoted to commander on 30 June 1970 , he became executive officer on the destroyer HMS " Norfolk " in February 1971 . He joined the Directorate of Naval Air Warfare at the Ministry of Defence in February 1973 . Promoted to captain on 31 December 1974 , Bathurst took command of a " Leander " class frigate , HMS " Ariadne " in March 1975 . He became Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord in May 1976 and Captain 5th Frigate Squadron in HMS " Minerva " in September 1978 . He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1981 and became Director of Naval Air Warfare at the Ministry of Defence in January 1982 . Promoted to rear admiral on 10 October 1983 , on appointment as Flag Officer Second Flotilla , Bathurst went on to be Director General Naval Manpower and Training at the Ministry of Defence in May 1985 . He was promoted to vice admiral on 22 December 1986 , on appointment as Chief of Fleet Support . He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1987 Birthday Honours , and promoted to full admiral on 21 April 1989 , on appointment as Commander - in - Chief Fleet which also carried with it the NATO appointments of Commander - in - Chief , Channel and Commander - in - Chief , Eastern Atlantic . Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1991 New Year Honours , he became Vice - Chief of the Defence Staff in March 1991 and First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in March 1993 . As First Sea Lord he advised the British Government on the deployment of Naval Support including Sea Harrier s during the Bosnian War . He was promoted Admiral of the Fleet on 10 July 1995 on his retirement . Later career . In retirement Bathurst became a Non - Executive Director of British International Helicopters . He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset on 27 August 1996 and became Vice - Lord Lieutenant on 18 February 1999 . He is a younger brother of Trinity House and a Liveryman of Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators . His interests include gardening , shooting and fishing . Family . Bathurst married Sarah Christian Pandora Peto , daughter of Major John Peto and granddaughter of Sir Basil Peto , 1st Baronet , in 1959 . They have one son and three daughters .