 He won many friends in the United Kingdom by his outspoken and generous support of Britain at the time of the Second Boer War (1899–1902), expressed in a declaration printed in "The Times" of 2 May 1900, when continental opinion was almost universally hostile.He remained a strong supporter of the Navy throughout his life, and frequently visited ships of the fleet.When the coastal defence ship was launched, he even signed his name on the vessel's aft main gun tower.