Sir John de Robeck | |
|---|---|
 Sir John Michael de Robeck | |
| Born | 10 June 1862 Naas, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Died | 20 January 1928 (aged 65) London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1875–1924 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands | Atlantic Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Battle Squadron 3rd Battle Squadron Eastern Mediterranean Squadron 9th Cruiser Squadron HMS Dominion HMS Carnarvon HMS Mermaid HMS Angler HMS Desperate |
| Battles / wars | First World War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
| Spouse(s) | Hilda Maud (Lady de Robeck) |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Michael de Robeck, 1st Baronet, GCB, GCMG, GCVO (10 June 1862 – 20 January 1928) was an officer in the Royal Navy. In the early years of the 20th century he served as Admiral of Patrols, commanding four flotillas of destroyers.
De Robeck commanded the allied naval force in the Dardanelles during the First World War. His campaign to force the straits, launched on 18 March 1915, was nearly successful, as the Turkish land-based artillery almost ran out of ammunition. However, mines laid in the straits led to the loss of three allied battleships. The subsequent ground campaign, like the naval campaign, was ultimately a failure and the ground troops had to be taken off the Gallipoli peninsula by de Robeck on the night of 8 January 1916. He went on to become Commander of the 3rd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet and then Commander of the 2nd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet.
After the war de Robeck became Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet and British High Commissioner to Turkey, and then Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet.