Germany
Karl von Müller
1873–1923 Captain of the cruiser SMS Emden
Captain of the light cruiser Emden in Germany's East Asia Squadron, Müller was detached from Admiral Spee's fleet in August 1914 with orders to disrupt Allied shipping in the Indian Ocean. In three months he sank or captured 17 merchant ships, bombarded Madras and slipped into Penang to sink a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer, earning a reputation for courtesy: he treated prisoners well and sank ships only after their crews were safe. On 9 November 1914 HMAS Sydney caught Emden off the Cocos Islands and destroyed her. Müller was taken prisoner, held in Britain and Malta, and was widely respected even by his enemies. He died in Germany in 1923.