Charles Edmund Kingsmill was born at Guelph, Ontario in 1855. In 1870 he joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman. He was promoted Sub-lieutenant in 1875, Lieutenant in 1877, Commander in 1891, and Captain in 1898. During his career in the Royal Navy, he commanded HMS "Goldfinch", "Blenheim", "Archer", "Gibraltar", "Mildura", "Resolution", "Majestic", and "Dominion".
In 1908 he was promotted to Rear-admiral and sent to Canada to command the Marine Service of the Department of Marine and Fisheries. With the formation of the Naval Services of Canada, he became the Director of the Services and held this position throughout World War One until retiring in 1921. He was made a Vice-Admiral on 17 May 1913 and a full Admiral in 1917.
He was knighted in 1918.
Medals of Admiral Charles Edmund KINGSMILL, Kt: