Born the son of Rear Admiral Charles Calmady Bayley Dent, Dent joined the
Royal Navy in July 1882. He was posted to , drill-ship of the
Royal Naval Reserve, in August 1902, for service with the Ordnance Committee. Promoted to
captain on 30 June 1908, he became commanding officer of the
cruiser in March 1910. Dent served in the
First World War becoming commanding officer of the
battleship in January 1915, of the cruiser in June 1915, of the battleship in June 1916 and of the battleship in June 1917. ==Family==