Editing David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (section)

==Family and childhood==
Beatty was born into an [[Anglo-Irish people|Anglo-Irish]] family at Howbeck Lodge in the parish of [[Stapeley]], near [[Nantwich]], Cheshire, on 17 January 1871.<ref>{{harvnb |Roskill|1980|p=20}}</ref> He was the second son of five children born to [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]] David Longfield Beatty and Katherine (or Katrine) Edith Beatty (née Sadleir), both from Ireland: David Longfield had been an officer in the [[4th Queen's Own Hussars|Fourth Hussars]] where he formed a relationship with Katrine, the wife of another officer.<ref name=heath23>Heathcote, p. 23</ref>

After the affair between David Longfield and Katrine became known, David Longfield's father (Beatty's grandfather), David Vandeleur Beatty (1815–1881), arranged for his son to be posted to India in the hope that the scandalous relationship might end. David Longfield resigned from the regiment on 21 November 1865, with the honorary rank of [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]]. He took up residence with Katrine in Cheshire and in 1869 [[sale of commissions|sold his commission]].<ref>{{harvnb |Beatty |1980|pp=4–5}}</ref> David Longfield was unable to marry Katrine until Katrine had obtained a divorce on 21 February 1871, after the birth of their first two sons. Beatty's birth certificate recorded his mother's surname as Beatty, and his parents' eventual marriage at St Michael's Church in [[Liverpool]] was kept secret.<ref>{{harvnb |Beatty |1980|pp=1–3}}</ref>

Beatty's early education concentrated on horsemanship, hunting and learning to be a gentleman. Beatty had a close relationship with his elder brother Charles, who became his ally against their oppressive and overbearing father. They remained close throughout life, so much so that the only time Beatty felt despair was at his brother's death. Beatty later wrote to his wife about Charles, ''we lived together, played together, rode together, fought together.''<ref>{{harvnb |Beatty |1980|p=20}} citing letter to Beatty's wife</ref> His brothers would later join the [[British Army]], but early on young David developed an interest in ships and the sea and expressed a desire to join the [[Royal Navy]]. In 1881 Beatty's grandfather died and David Longfield succeeded to the 18th century mansion, '[[Borodale]]', outside [[Enniscorthy]], in [[County Wexford]]. After retiring from the army David Longfield established a business training horses first in Cheshire and then at 'The Mount', near [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], Warwickshire. On inheriting and following the death of his wife at 'The Mount', David Longfield returned to Ireland abandoning the training business.<ref>{{harvnb |Beatty |1980|p=31}}</ref>

Beatty was educated at [[Kilkenny College]] and in 1882 entered [[Burney's Academy|Burney's Naval Academy]] at [[Gosport]], which was a 'crammer' for boys wishing to take the entrance examinations for the Royal Navy.<ref>{{harvnb |Beatty |1980|p=11}}</ref>