Alfred de Denne was born on 1st February 1842 in Woolwich, Kent, he was baptised on August 16th at St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. He was the first son of William Denne, 36yrs, Surgeon, and Lucy Mary Ann, nee Barret, 25yrs, they lived at High Street, Woolwich. Alfred had 3 more siblings, William Robert, 1844, Thomas Vincent, 1846, and Lucy Hannah, 1851. In 1861, his father, William, was the Medical Officer at Hanwell Asylum, Middlesex. Alfred was educated at Christs Hospital School, and joined the Royal Navy, Fleet Paymaster's Office in 1858 at 16yrs of age. Alfred had a long and distinguished naval career, serving for a total of 39yrs, during which he saw action in Japan and West Africa, was awarded with a campaign medal and Foreign Order medal. In 1886 he was promoted to Fleet Paymaster, and he retired in 1897 with the rank of Paymaster in Chief.
He married Mary May, 26yrs, on 19th October 1875 in Brentford; she was the daughter of the Reverend John May, M.A., Chaplain of the County Asylum, Hanwell, Middlesex. They had one daughter, Ethel Mary Denne.
Alfred and Mary retired to Worthing, living at 6, Shelley Road, in 1901. They later moved to St. Agnes, Manor Road, where Alfred died, aged 79yrs, on 4th February 1921.
Probate was granted to his widow, Mary de Denne, effects - £1568 8s 3d. Value 2020 - £77K. His address was given as St. Agnes, Boundary Road, Worthing.
The de Denne family are descended from Robert de Dene who was an official in the court of Edward the Confessor, he was in charge of wines and beverages in the royal household and is believed to have come over from Normandy with Edward; he held large estates in Sussex and Kent. The spelling of the name has many variations.