Admiral Baron Uryu Sotokichi

Sotokichi Uryu (2 January 1857 11 November 1937) was an early admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy, active in the Russo-Japanese War, most notably at the Battle of Chemulpo Bay and the Battle of Tsushima. His name is sometimes transliterated as "Uriu Sotokichi", or "Uriu Sotokitchi".

Born to a samurai family in the Kaga domain (present day Kanazawa in Ishikawa prefecture), Uryu became one of the first cadets of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy; he was then sent to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis on 9 June 1875, returning on 2 October 1881. Commissioned as a lieutenant he served aboard various ships throughout the 1880s, including the IJN Kaimon , IJN Fusō , and the Nisshin. On 23 July 1891, he assumed his first command, that of the gunboat Akagi. Promoted to captain in 1891, he was then posted as naval attach to France from 5 September 1892 to 31 August 1896.

After the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War, Uryu briefly commanded the new cruiser IJN Akitsushima, followed by his old ship, the IJN Fusō'

A brief spell in prison for 3 months from 5 April 1898 did not seem to hurt his career, as he was appointed captain of the IJN Matsushima on 1 February 1898, and the IJN Yashima on 16 June 1898. He became a rear admiral and Chief of the Navy General Staff on 21 May 1900.

Promoted to vice admiral on 6 June 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War he commanded the Second Squadron at the Battle of Chemulpo Bay, and there sank the Russian cruisers Variag and Kortiez. For his war service he was decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun (1st classs) and the Order of the Golden Kite (2nd class) in 1906.

He was made commander of the Sasebo Naval District on 22 November 1906, he was ennobled with the title of danshaku (baron) on 21 September 1907.

Appointed commander of the Yokosuka Naval District on 1 December 1909, Uryu was made a full admiral on 16 October 1912. He entered the reserve list in 1927, and died in 1933 at age 81. His grave is at Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo. He was a lifelong proponent of better ties with the United States.