XXXV 



1877, and in 1888 the Knight Commandership of the Military Divi- 

 sion of the Bath. 



Admiral Richards was, while serving at the Admiralty and sub- 

 sequently, a trusted adviser of several administrations, and was a 

 member of several committees on confidential and general subjects, 

 and was also President of the Arctic Committee which sat in 1875. 



He became a Vice-Admiral in 1877, and Admiral in 1884. 



After leaving the Admiralty he was at once offered and accepted 

 the position of Managing Director of the Telegraph Construction 

 and Maintenance Company, which he held for twenty years, when he 

 was elected Chairman of the Company, a post he occupied to his 

 death. 



Whilst Managing Director, some 76,000 miles of submarine 

 cables were laid under his superintendence in different parts of the 

 world. 



He was also Acting Conservator of the Mersey from the year 1888, 

 an important post in connection with the well-being of that great 

 seaport. 



Sir George Richards served several times on the Council of the 

 Royal Society, and was nominated a Yice-President. 



He was a man of great ability, of sound common-sense, and of un- 

 tiring activity, and his unfailing good humour, general shrewdness, 

 and kindness to younger members of his profession caused him to be 

 universally beloved and respected. 



He died at Bath on November 14, 1896, somewhat suddenly, though 

 after a painful period of severe sciatica. 



Sir G. Richards married, first, in 1847, Mary, a daughter of Cap- 

 tain R. Young, R.E., by whom he had several sons and daughters ; 

 and, secondly, Alice Mary, daughter of the Rev. R. S. Tabor, of 

 Cheam, who survives him. 



W. J. L. W. 



