Chatfield, Alfred Ernle Montacute, 1st Baron Chatfield (1873-1967)

British admiral. He became first sea lord and chief of the naval staff in 1933, having achieved three objectives: to rebuild the battle fleet, to increase British cruiser strength, and to free the Fleet Air Arm from Air Ministry control. He was raised to the peerage in 1937.

He entered the navy in 1886 and served with distinction in World War I. He was fourth sea lord in 1919, assistant chief of naval staff 1920-22, and commanded a light cruiser squadron 1923-24. From 1925 to 1928 he was third sea lord and controller of the navy, being responsible for the navy at a time when its efficiency had been seriously affected by false economy. He was commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet 1929-30 and of the Mediterranean Fleet 1930-32.

In 1938 he left the Admiralty to become chairman of the expert committee on Indian defence, and he was minister for the coordination of defence 1939-40 with a seat in the War Cabinet.