Biographical sketches of distinguished officers of the army and navy . sioned Lieu-tenant-Commander in 1866, and Commander in 1S74,his first command being the U. S. S. Alert, and laterthe Swatara. Was several times stationed at theNaval Academy as instructor or head of department,and from 1886 to 1890 was Superintendent of thatinstitution. Was in charge of the Na\-al Observa-tory in Washington from 1882 to 18S4 ; a member ofthe International Prime Meridian and Time Confer-ence in 1894; in charge of the U. S. Torpedo Sta-tion, 1884 to 1885 ; a member of the Board of Forti-fications and other De
Biographical sketches of distinguished officers of the army and navy . sioned Lieu-tenant-Commander in 1866, and Commander in 1S74,his first command being the U. S. S. Alert, and laterthe Swatara. Was several times stationed at theNaval Academy as instructor or head of department,and from 1886 to 1890 was Superintendent of thatinstitution. Was in charge of the Na\-al Observa-tory in Washington from 1882 to 18S4 ; a member ofthe International Prime Meridian and Time Confer-ence in 1894; in charge of the U. S. Torpedo Sta-tion, 1884 to 1885 ; a member of the Board of Forti-fications and other Defences, 18S5 to 1886; and adelegate from the United States to the InternationalMaritime Conference, 1887. Was promoted to Cap-tain in 1889, and assigned to command of the U. S. Francisco in 1890. Was in charge of the Wash-ington Navy Yard and Gun Foundry, 1S92-3 ; andfrom 1893 to 1S97 was Chief of the Bureau of Ord-nance at the Nav3 Department; and was assigned tothe command of the Iowa in 1S97. ^^ ^^^^ Presi-dent of the Court of Inquiry which investigated the. REAR ADMIRAL WILLIAM THOMAS SAMPSON. UNITED STATES NAVY. III destruction of the U. S. S. Maine in Havana still a Captain, was appointed to the commandof the North Atlantic Station, a month before theoutbreak of hostilities with Spain, and on the day theblockade of Cuba was declared was assigned the act-ing rank of Rear x\dmiral. Had supreme commandof the naval forces operating against Spanish shipsand territory in American waters. His commandnumbered over 125 vessels—the strongest fleet everorganized for hostile purposes. This fleet blockadedthe Spanish possessions of Cuba and Porto Rico, cap-tured many Spanish merchant vessels and other block-ade runners, destroyed several minor vSpanish men-of-war, cut the cables connecting the Spanish West In-dian possessions, bombarded several coast fortifica-tions ; inaugurated and maintained the blockade ofSantiago, which insured, and eventuall}accomplished,th
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectunitedstatesnavy
