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1877, and in 1888 the Knight Commandershipp of the Military Division of the Bath.
Admiral Richards was, while serving at the Admiralty and sub- sequently, a trusted adviser of several administrations, and wasa 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 Conncil of the Royal Society, and was nominated a Vice-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 severe sciatica.
Sir G. Richards married, first, in 1847, Mary, a daughter of Captain 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
