Benjamin Bathurst (Royal Navy officer)

Admiral of the Fleet

Sir Benjamin Bathurst

GCB DL
Admiral of the Fleet; Sir Benjamin Bathurst; GCB DL
	Bathurst as an Admiral
Born	27 May 1936; London, England
Died	12 October 2025 (aged 89); Gibraltar
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Service years	1953–1995
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet
Commands	First Sea Lord; Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff; Commander-in-Chief Fleet; Chief of Fleet Support; Director-General, Naval Manpower and Training; Flag Officer, Second Flotilla; Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord; Director of Naval Air Warfare; HMS Minerva; HMS Ariadne; 819 Naval Air Squadron;
Conflicts	Bosnian War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Relations	Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst (son)

Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Benjamin Bathurst, GCB, DL (27 May 1936 – 12 October 2025) was a British Royal Navy officer. After training as a pilot and qualifying as a helicopter instructor, Bathurst commanded a naval air squadron and then two frigates 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 Harriers during the Bosnian War.