Willard H. Brownson

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Willard H Brownson
Rear Admiral
Commands held
Battles/warsBrownson Expedition

Brazilian Naval Revolt

Spanish–American War

Rear-Admiral Willard Herbert Brownson (July 8, 1845 – March 16, 1935), was a

pirates in Mexico and service during the Spanish–American War. He also served a term as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
.

Early life and career

A native of

shore battery
.

In 1872, Brownson reported for duty at the Naval Academy's Department of

survey ship USC&GS George S. Blake until 1884. After brief duty as executive officer of the steam frigate USS Powhatan, he was named Inspector of Hydrography
for the Coast Survey.

After a return to the Naval Academy as Commandant of Cadets, Brownson served for two years on the

auxiliary cruiser USS Yankee during the Spanish–American War of 1898, seeing action in the Battle of Guantánamo Bay
.

In 1899 Brownson achieved the rank of captain and command of the battleship USS Alabama, and from 1902 to 1905 was Superintendent of the Naval Academy.

Brownson was promoted to

North Atlantic Fleet. He served as Commander, Special Service Squadron in Central American waters and was Commander-in-Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet from 15 October 1906 to 31 March 1907.[1]

In 1907, Brownson was assigned as Chief of the

personnel matters. In July 1907, he was transferred to the retired list, but continued to serve in his post at the Bureau of Navigation until December 1907. That month, President Theodore Roosevelt decided to give command of hospital ships
to U.S. Navy doctors, against the advice of Brownson, who then resigned from the Navy. A storm of protest arose from within the Navy and from the public, but Brownson's active naval career was over.

Brownson married Isabella Robinson Roberts in July 1872. Their first child, Henry was born in 1874 and died in 1876 shortly after his father left for the

Navy Cross during the Spanish–American War
.

Brownson died at Washington, D.C., on 16 March 1935.

Namesakes

Two U.S. Navy destroyers have been named USS Brownson in Brownson's honor.

Gallery

See also

  • List of superintendents of the United States Naval Academy

Notes

  1. ISBN 1-55750-883-6
    , p. 318.

References

Attribution

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

External links


Military offices
Preceded by
Richard Wainwright
Superintendent of United States Naval Academy

1902–1905 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet
15 October 1906 – 31 March 1907 		Succeeded by
  • Note: The Asiatic Fleet was the First Squadron, Pacific Fleet, from 1907 to 28 January 1910, between Brownson's tour and Hubbard's tour.
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