A gunnery specialist, Jellicoe served in the Egyptian campaign of 1882. He was also one of the survivors of the collision between the battleships 'Victoria' and 'Camperdown' in the Mediterranean in 1893. He also played an important role in the modernization of the Navy under Admiral John Fisher. As Director of Naval Ordnance, 1905–1907, and Controller of the Navy, 1908–1910, Jellicoe promoted the new 'dreadnought' battleships, torpedo boats and submarines. In November 1911 he was appointed second-in-command of the British Grand Fleet and, on the outbreak of the First World War, became its commander. He led it in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 but was criticized for his defensive attitude towards sea warfare and in late 1916 was replaced by Sir David Beatty. He became First Sea Lord until his dismissal by the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, on 24 December 1917, following a disagreement about the introduction of convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic. After the war Jellicoe became Governor of New Zealand, 1920–1924, and was created Earl Jellicoe in 1925.