Rear-Admiral Thomas Benjamin Stratton Adair (6 November 1861 – 12 August 1928) was a British Royal Navy officer and Unionist MP for Glasgow Shettleston from December 1918 to October 1922.[1]
Adair was the son of General Sir Charles William Adair. He entered the Navy in 1874, was promoted to the rank of commander on 1 January 1894,[2] and to captain on 31 December 1899.[3] From 1900 to 1902 he was a member of the Navy's Ordnance Committee. He was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser HMS Gladiator on 22 September 1902,[4] serving with her in the Mediterranean Fleet.
In 1906, as captain of HMS Montagu, he grounded the battleship at Shutter Point, Lundy Island, in a thick fog during naval manoeuvres. Despite extensive efforts, the ship could not be salvaged, and was dismantled in situ. Adair and his navigation officer were court-martialled for the stranding; Adair was sentenced to be severely reprimanded and dismissed from ship. His naval career was effectively ended by the incident.
He retired the following year and was advanced to rear-admiral on the retired list. After his retirement, he was Head of the Ordnance Department of W. Beardmore & Co. Ltd, Parkhead Steelworks, Glasgow.[5]
He was elected as a supporter of David Lloyd George's coalition government for Glasgow Shettleston in December 1918, serving until 1922.