Viscount Cunningham
Cunningham of Hyndhope, Andrew Browne Cunningham, Viscount (1883–1963), a British naval officer. As British commander in chief of the Mediterranean, 1939–42, he safeguarded Allied shipping in the eastern Mediterranean from the Axis despite having only a small force. Daring use of his fleet led to victories at Calabria, Taranto, and Cape Matapan. His ships took heavy losses in the successful evacuation of British troops from Greece and Crete in 1941.
In 1942 Cunningham commanded the North African invasion fleet. He then became Allied naval chief in the Mediterranean. He was first sea lord, 1943–46. Cunningham was knighted in 1945 and was made a peer in 1946.