Henry Lycurgus Howison

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Rear Admiral Henry Lycurgus Howison (10 October, 1837 – 31 December, 1914) served in the United States Navy.

Life & Career

Howison was born in Indiana and was appointed to the Naval Academy from that state in September 1854 as a member of the class of 1858.[1]

Howison was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 19 April 1861 and to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 3 March 1865.[2] During the Civil War, his service included time as executive officer and acting commanding officer of the paddle steamer Bienville. Postwar service included time at the Naval Academy in 1870 and 1871.[3]

Howison was promoted to the rank of Commander on 19 August 1872.[4] From 1873 to 1875 he was commanding officer of gunboat Shawmut.[5][6] In 1879, he became Ordnance Officer at the Washington Navy Yard,[7] and from 1881 to 1882 he commanded screw frigate Minnesota, then a gunnery training ship.[8]

Howison was promoted to the rank of Captain on 2 March, 1885.[9] In 1886 he was appointed to command screw sloop Vandalia.[10] After two years in command, he embarked on a series of shore duty assignments.

In 1892, Howison became Captain of the Yard at the Mare Island Navy Yard and moved up to become Commandant in June, 1893.[11][12]

Howison became the first commanding officer of battleship Oregon on 15 July, 1896.[13] He was promoted to the rank of Commodore on 21 March 1897.[14]

During the Spanish-American War, Howison served as Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard, and was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on 22 November 1898.[15]

From March to October, 1899, Howison flew his flag at sea as commander of the South Atlantic Squadron (U.S. Navy).[16][17]

Howison retired for age on 10 October, 1899 and moved to Yonkers, New York.[18] He died there on 31 December, 1914.

See Also

Constitution Museum FindAGrave

Bibliography

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of U.S.S. Shawmut
1873[19] – before 25 Feb, 1875[20]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
?
Ordnance Officer, Navy Yard, Washington
1879[21] – 1881[22]
Succeeded by
Theodore F. Jewell
Preceded by
Stephen B. Luce
Captain of U.S.S. Minnesota
1881[23] – before 22 Feb, 1882
Succeeded by
James H. Gillis
Preceded by
Rush R. Wallace
Captain of U.S.S. Vandalia
10 Feb, 1886[24] – Apr, 1888[25]
Succeeded by
Cornelius M. Schoonmaker
Preceded by
J. Crittenden Watson
Captain, Navy Yard, Mare Island
Aug, 1892[26] – 17 Jun, 1893
Succeeded by
Francis J. Higginson
Preceded by
John Irwin
Commandant, Navy Yard, Mare Island
17 Jul, 1893[27] – before Jul, 1896[28]
Succeeded by
William A. Kirkland
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of U.S.S. Oregon
15 Jul, 1896 – Mar, 1897
Succeeded by
Albert S. Barker
Preceded by
Joseph N. Miller
Commandant, Navy Yard, Boston
5 May, 1897[29] – Mar, 1899[30]
Succeeded by
Mortimer L. Johnson
Preceded by
Colby M. Chester
Commanding South Atlantic Squadron
30 Mar, 1899[31] – 2 Oct, 1899[32]
Succeeded by
Winfield S. Schley

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1900. pp.88-89.
  2. Register of Officers, 1899. pp. 4-5.
  3. Constitution Museum
  4. Register of Officers, 1899. pp. 4-5.
  5. Register of Officers, July 1875. p. 11.
  6. Constitution Museum
  7. Register of Officers, 1879. p. 144.
  8. FindAGrave
  9. Register of Officers, 1899. pp. 4-5.
  10. Boston Globe 17 February, 1886 p. 1
  11. San Francisco Call 8 August, 1892 p. 3.
  12. Register of Officers, 1896. p. 6.
  13. Register of Officers, 1897. p. 6.
  14. Register of Officers, 1899. pp. 4-5.
  15. Register of Officers, 1899. pp. 4-5.
  16. Brooklyn Daily Eagle 20 March, 1899 p. 3
  17. Brooklyn Daily Eagle 3 October, 1899 p. 2
  18. Register of Officers, 1900. pp. 88-89, 140.
  19. Constitution Museum
  20. Register of Officers, July 1875. p. 11.
  21. Register of Officers, 1879. p. 144.
  22. Register of Officers, 1881. p. 146.
  23. Register of Officers, 1882. pp. 16-17.
  24. Register of Officers, 1887. p. 6.
  25. Register of Officers, 1889. p. 6.
  26. San Francisco Call 8 August, 1892 p. 3.
  27. Register of Officers, 1896. p. 6.
  28. Register of Officers, 1897. p. 6.
  29. List and Station, July 1898. p. 4.
  30. Boston Globe 25 March, 1899 p. 1.
  31. Brooklyn Daily Eagle 30 March, 1899 p. 3.
  32. Brooklyn Daily Eagle 3 October, 1899 p. 2.