Compton Domvile was born on 10 October 1842 to Henry Barry Domvile (1813–1843) and Frances Domvile (née Winnington-Ingram) (d 1884).[1] He was educated at the Royal Academy, Gosport.[2]
Career
Early career
Compton Domvile joined the Royal Navy in 1856.[2] He served in the Royal Yacht[2] and was promoted to lieutenant on 28 October 1862. He commanded the steam-gunboat HMS Algerine from 16 April 1866 and was promoted to commander on 2 September 1868[3][4] for service against piracy.[2]
HMS Dryad
On 3 August 1874 he became captain of the screw sloopHMS Dryad from commissioning at Devonport. Dryad served on the North America and West Indies Station until December 1877. Domvile was promoted to captain on 27 March 1876, whilst serving in Dryad. Commander John Edward Stokes replaced him as Dryad's captain some time in 1877.[3][5]
HMS Dido
He became captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich until 19 September 1879,[3] followed by a return to sea as captain of the steam corvetteHMS Dido, replacing Captain Arthur Richard Wright who had died on 19 August 1879. Dido served on the west coast of Africa, including service in the first Boer War (1880–1881). After the Battle of Laing's Nek, Dido contributed 50 men and two field guns to a Naval Brigade, which went to the front under Lieutenant Henry Ogle. This brigade shared in the disaster at the Battle of Majuba Hill on 27 February, where Dido lost 3 killed and 3 wounded. Captain Domvile took charge of the Naval Brigade, but no further action took place before a peace was concluded.[6]
Capt. Archibald Compton Winnington Domvile (19 May 1884 – 1959); Sara Palma Guzman (d. 28 August 1938), daughter of Don Gabriel Palma Guzman, President of the Supreme Court of Chile. They had one daughter, Margaret Domvile (b. 17 May 1916).
May Louise Domvile (3 Apr 1893 – 25 July 1970). She married Cosmo George Romilly (20 June 1890 – 11 Aug 1915), great grandson of Sir Samuel Romilly and also John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford. He was killed during the First World War, and nine years later married Lt.-Col. Richard Laurence Stapylton Pemberton. Both marriages were without issue.