John Porter Merrell

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John Porter Merrell
Rear Admiral
Commands held
Battles/warsSpanish–American War
William S. Sims
, standing next to Merrell, also salutes Roosevelt.

Rear Admiral John Porter Merrell (7 September 1846 – 8 December 1916) was an officer in the United States Navy. He served in the Spanish–American War and as the 11th President of the Naval War College
.

Naval career

Merrell was born in Auburn, New York, on 7 September 1846, the son of John Camp Merrell and the former Jane A. Allen.[1] He entered the United States Naval Academy on 20 July 1863,[2][3] graduating in June 1867.[4][5]

Merrell's first assignment was to the European Squadron from 1867 to 1870. While there, he served aboard the screw sloop-of-war USS Ticonderoga from 1867 to 1868, was promoted to ensign on 18 December 1868,[6] and served aboard the screw sloop-of-war USS Plymouth from 1869 to 1870.[7]

Merrell returned from

signals duty in Washington, D.C. He was promoted to master on 21 March 1870.[8][9] From 1870 to 1871, he participated in the Darién Surveying Expedition, which attempted to survey a route for a canal across the Isthmus of Panama.[10]

After returning from the expedition, Merrell – who was promoted to

Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island, from 1872[13] to 1875, then aboard the screw frigate USS Swatara in the North Atlantic Squadron from 1875 to 1877.[14] He was the officer-in-charge of the Naval Ordnance Proving Ground
from 1877 to 1879.

In 1879, Merrell returned to sea, serving aboard the third-rate screw

South Atlantic Squadron until 1881, when he transferred to the screw sloop-of-war USS Shenandoah in the North Atlantic Squadron, remaining aboard her until 1882.[15]

After leaving Shenandoah, Merrell taught

lieutenant commander during this tour on 28 May 1888.[17]

Merrell again taught mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1889 to 1893, serving as head of the

Merrell was promoted to

Leaving Glacier, he became the equipment officer at the

New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1901 to June 1903, then returned to the staff of the Naval War College until October 1903, when he resumed his commandant duties at New Orleans. He returned to the Asiatic Squadron in 1904 as commanding officer of the battleship USS Oregon.[23]

Relinquishing command of Oregon, Merrell returned to Newport, Rhode Island, to become the 11th President of the Naval War College on 24 May 1906. While president, he was promoted to rear admiral on 19 March 1907. The most notable event of his presidency was the suspension by direction of President Theodore Roosevelt of the 1908 summer course on 8 July so that the General Board of the United States Navy, the bureau chiefs of the United States Department of the Navy, and the college's staff and students could participate in a "Battleship Conference" at the college, with Roosevelt himself visiting to chair the conference for a day on 22 July 1908. Secretary of the Navy Victor H. Metcalf closed the conference on 1 September 1908.[24][25]

Merrell was placed on the retirement list on 7 September 1908, but at the request of Secretary of the Navy Metcalf remained on active duty for an additional 13 months until 6 October 1909, when his college presidency ended and he left active Navy service.[26][27]

Personal life

Merrell married Sarah Frances Tyler on 22 January 1872. The couple made their home in her home town, Marshall, Michigan.[28]

Merrell was a life member of the

Philippine Islands.[29]

Death

Merrell fell ill while visiting his daughter and son-in-law in New London, Connecticut, late in 1916, and died in their apartment on 8 December 1916. He is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery.[30]

Notes

  1. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  2. ^ Hamersly, p. 235.
  3. ^ Naval History and Heritage Command: Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–1900. Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Hamersly, p. 235.
  5. ^ Naval History and Heritage Command: Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–1900. Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Naval History and Heritage Command: Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–1900. Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Hamersly, p. 235.
  8. ^ Hamersly, p. 235.
  9. ^ Naval History and Heritage Command: Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–1900. Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Anonymous, "The Darlen Surveying Expedition, The New York Times, September 18, 1870, p. 5.
  11. ^ Hamersly, p. 235.
  12. ^ Naval History and Heritage Command: Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–1900. Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Hamersly, p. 235, and Marquis, p. 1306
  14. ^ Hamersly, p. 235.
  15. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  16. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  17. ^ Naval History and Heritage Command: Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–1900. Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  19. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  20. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  21. ^ Naval History and Heritage Command: Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–1900. Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  23. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  24. ^ U.S. Naval War College Chronology of Courses and Significant Events 1900–1909
  25. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  26. ^ Past Presidents page at Naval War College official Web site Archived 2010-11-30 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ Anonymous, "Admiral Merrell Retires; Will Give Up Presidency of Naval War College Today," The New York Times, October 6, 1909.
  28. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  29. ^ Marquis, p. 1306.
  30. ^ Anonymous, "Death of Rear Admiral John Merrell: Former Resident Passed Away Today at Apartments of Daughter, New London", The Marshall News Statesman, December 8, 1916

References

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Charles S. Sperry
President of the Naval War College
24 May 1906 – 6 October 1909
Succeeded by