Admiral John McClure of the Imperial Chinese Navy

Admiral John McClure in his Mandarin robes, about 1910
Admiral John McClure in his Mandarin robes, about 1910

Photograph of Admiral John McClure of the Imperial Chinese Navy, c.1910

A photograph of Admiral John McClure of the Imperial Chinese Navy has been recently rediscovered in a local family collection. The photograph was taken around 1910 in the garden of Knockbrex House, Borgue. Admiral McClure is seated in his Mandarin robes, in accordance with his rank in the Imperial Chinese Navy.

Born in Kirkcudbright in 1837, McClure went to sea when he left school. For many years he served in the Far East for Jardine & Matheson. On the outbreak of the war between China and Japan in 1894, he was appointed Captain of a Chinese dispatch boat. He rose quickly to the rank of Admiral and distinguished himself in the Battle of Weihaiwei in January 1895, despite the Chinese Navy’s defeat by the Japanese. He returned to Britain in December 1895, and eventually retired to ‘Glenholm’, Kirkcudbright. He died in Garlieston in 1920,but is buried in Kirkcudbright kirkyard.

The headstone marking Admiral McClure's grave in Kirkcudbright kirkyard, which also commemorates his wife Helen Roger, who predeceased him in 1915
The headstone marking Admiral McClure’s grave in Kirkcudbright kirkyard, which also commemorates his wife Helen Roger, who predeceased him in 1915

With thanks to the owner of the photograph for allowing its reproduction here. For more information on Admiral McClure, see ‘Kirkcudbright – An Alphabetical Guide to its History’ by David R Collin.

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