Naval Museum of Halifax

About

The Naval Museum of Halifax (formerly the Maritime Command Museum) is a Canadian Forces museum located at CFB Halifax in the former official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the North America Station (1819–1905). Also known as Admiralty House, the residence is a National Historic Site of Canada located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts and history of the Royal Canadian Navy.

served as the official summer residence of the admiral commanding the North American Station of the British Royal Navy from 1819 to 1905. Construction of the large Palladian Style Georgian house overlooking the Halifax Naval Yard began in 1814. Squadron commanders previously resided aboard a flagship moored at the Naval Yard. The house was completed in 1819 as the summer residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station, with the squadron shifting its main base during the winter months from Halifax to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda (where a separate Admiralty House was maintained from 1795 to 1956). The first to live in the residence was Admiral David Milne.

As the residence of one of the most important officials in Halifax, Admiralty House hosted many social and ceremonial events in the 19th century. One of the largest was a ball in 1848 for 600 guests hosted by Admiral Thomas Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald, famous as the inspiration for the fictional characters Horatio Hornblower by C. S. Forester and Jack Aubrey by Patrick O'Brian. Another famous resident of the house was Admiral Francis Austen, brother of the famous novelist Jane Austen. In all, 36 admirals lived in the house, the last being Sir Day Hort Bosanquet.

Admiralty House was taken over by the Canadian government in 1905 as Canada took responsibility for the Halifax Dockyard from the British Royal Navy. In World War I it served as a naval hospital. The roof was blown in by the Halifax Explosion on December 6, 1917. Despite the damage, hospital staff, many of them injured themselves, treated many wounded in the house in the hours after the explosion. After repairs, the house was used as a clinic by the Massachusetts Halifax Relief Commission to assist survivors after the explosion. From 1925 to 1954 it became part of the Royal Canadian Navy base HMCS Stadacona, serving as a Wardroom Officer's Mess and later as office space. In 1961 it became the library for the Royal Canadian Navy and provided classroom space.

Main article: Commander-in-Chief, North American Station

Two Admirals distinguished themselves during the War of 1812 :

Edward Colpoys 's flagship, HMS Winchester, re-established New Ireland (Maine) (1814); served at Halifax (1816–1821, 1830–1832)

Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet, Burning of Washington (1814); served at Halifax (1832–36)

Cockburn's flagship HMS Vernon in Halifax

Four of the Admirals fought in the renown Siege of Sevastopol (1854–55) during the Crimean War :

Houston Stewart, served at Halifax (1856–60)

Edward Augustus Inglefield, served in Halifax (1878–79)

John Edmund Commerell, Commerell was awarded the Victoria Cross for the Siege; served at Halifax (1882–85)

Algernon Lyons, served at Halifax (1886–88)

Lyons' flagship HMS Bellerophon in Halifax

Two Admirals were involved in the search for Franklin's Lost Expedition :

Edward Augustus Inglefield, served in Halifax (1878–79)

Francis McClintock, served in Halifax (1879–82)

McClintock's flagship HMS Northampton in Halifax

Francis Austen, brother of Jane Austen ; served in Halifax (1844-1848)