| Honorific Prefix: | Admiral |
| Sir William O'Brien | |
| Birth Date: | 1916 11, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Faversham, Kent, England |
| Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | Royal Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1930–1971 |
| Rank: | Admiral |
| Commands: | Western Fleet (1970–71) Far East Fleet (1967–69) Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers (1966–67) (1961–64) 8th Destroyer Squadron (1958–59) (1958–59) (1955–57) (1948–49) (1943–44) |
| Battles: | Second World War |
| Awards: | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Admiral Sir William Donough O'Brien, (13 November 1916 – 19 February 2016) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Western Fleet from 1970 to 1971.
Educated at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth, O'Brien was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1930.[1] He served in the Second World War, during which he served with the naval escort of the fateful PQ 17 convoy.[2] He was promoted to captain on 30 June 1955.
In the early 1960s, O'Brien served as Director of Naval Plans at the Ministry of Defence under Lord Louis Mountbatten.[3] He was then appointed Naval Secretary in 1964.[4] He was appointed Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers in 1966, Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet in 1967, and Commander-in-Chief of the Western Fleet in 1970.[1] He retired in 1971.[1]
In retirement, O'Brien became Chairman of the King George's Fund for Sailors.[1] In 1975 he was Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785 (United 1889).[5] He became Chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal and, after its re-opening by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990, he retired from this post.[6] He also held the posts of Rear-Admiral and then Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom. He died after a brief illness on 19 February 2016, aged 99.[7]
In 1943, O'Brien married Rita Micallef: they went on to have one son and two daughters.[1]
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