He was educated at the Quebec High School, and in 1856 entered the Royal Navy as a cadet. He headed a British naval mission to Japan in 1873.
He rose to the rank of vice-admiral in 1901; from 1902 to 1904 he was commander-in-chief of the North American station; and he retired from the service in 1907. In 1910 he was made an honorary LL.D. of McGill University. In 1902 he was created a KCB, in 1905 a GCVO, and in 1911 a GCB.
W. Stewart WALLACE, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., p. 229.
Ian Gow, 'The Douglas Mission (1873-79) and Meiji Naval Education' in J.E. Hoare ed., Britain & Japan: Biographical Portraits Volume III, Japan Library 1999 ISBN 978-1873410899