[1] He is known as the first serving naval officer to be granted a commission to the rank of Admiral of an English fleet in 1303.

Geravse Alard was born in Winchelsea, East Sussex, England in 1270 and came from a seafaring family and was deemed a master mariner he served as a knight of King Edward I.

[2][3] On 25 September 1300 Alard was first appointed as an Admiral of the Cinque Ports by Edward I of England confirmed by a royal writ that outlined the position as an administrative office until 3 February 1303.

On 4 February 1303 he became the first serving English naval officer to be granted a royal commission to the rank of Admiral of an English Fleet and appointed Captain and Admiral of the Fleet of the Cinque Ports.

[2] In addition he was father to Stephen Alard, who later became Admiral of the Cinque Ports and the Western Fleet.