Bill King (Royal Navy officer)
A British naval commander who fought submarines in WWII and then, in his sixties, sailed alone around the world.
1910–2012 (age 102)·British naval officer, yachtsman, author·Birthday: June 23·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bill King’s life unfolded in two extraordinary acts. The first was as a decorated Royal Navy submariner. He commanded the submarine HMS Snapper at the outbreak of World War II and was in command of HMS Trusty when Japan surrendered, famously bookending the conflict. His service was marked by daring patrols, for which he earned the Distinguished Service Order twice. After the war, he retired to a farm in Ireland, but the sea called him back for a second, more solitary adventure. In 1968, at the age of 58, he entered the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, the first non-stop, solo circumnavigation. Sailing his 42-foot schooner *Galway Blazer II*, he battled the Southern Ocean’s fury until his boat was dismasted and he was forced to limp to Cape Town. Though he did not finish, his participation as the oldest competitor cemented his legend as a man of indefatigable spirit. He later wrote eloquent memoirs of his sea journeys, blending the practical knowledge of a sailor with a philosophical, almost mystical, reverence for the ocean.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bill was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bill Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Bill's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 80
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2012Died at 102
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- He was the only British submarine commander to hold command on both the first and last days of World War II.
- He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Bar for his service in submarine warfare.
- At age 58, he was the oldest competitor in the 1968-69 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, the first solo non-stop round-the-world sailing race.
- He authored several books about his sailing adventures, including 'The Wheeling Stars' and 'Adventure in Depth'.
Did You Know?
He was a keen organic farmer and beekeeper at his home in Oranmore, Ireland.
His schooner, *Galway Blazer II*, was designed specifically for his circumnavigation attempt.
He lived to be 102 years old, one of the longest-lived WWII submarine commanders.
He received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for actions in a surface ship early in the war, before moving to submarines.
“The sea finds out everything you did wrong.”
