May 2, 1903.
Made his first public speech at the Royal Academy Banquet.
August 31, 1903.
Appointed Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, in order to supervise personally the inauguration of his new education scheme at Osborne College. Also energetically promoted the formation and development of the first British submarine flotilla.
November 7, 1903.
Appointed member of Committee with Lord Esher and Colonel Sir George Clarke (Lord Sydenham) to reorganise the War Office on the lines of the Admiralty Board.
October 21, 1904.
Appointed First Sea Lord in Lord Selborne’s administration, and held this office for five years and three months, the period of his greatest activity and his preparation for a war with Germany. Some of the more notable of his many reforms are dealt with in his “Memories.”
Also appointed, October 21, 1904, First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII.