Born 1848. Joined the RN at age 13 in 1862. He studied at Excellent, the naval gunnery school, for 14 months while Jackie Fisher was an instructor, and then served onboard Ocean, flagship of the China Station. Served as executive officer on the cruiser HMS Australia, an Orlando-class cruiser of the Royal Navy completed in 1888. Commanded Royal Sovereign class battleship HMS Repulse c.1895. Appointed Second Lord of the Admiralty in 1904.

Grandson of Baron Charles Montverre, a Peninsular War Hero (1790–1888 ). Born in Bosham, in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. Father was Colonel William Montverre (1824— ), who fought in the Crimean War.

Married; has one son, William, who looks like a stage villain.

Elder brother Randolph is unmarried and childless.