William Ledyard Rodgers

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Vice Admiral William Ledyard Rodgers (4 February, 1860 – 7 May, 1944) served in the United States Navy. He was the son of Rear Admiral John Rodgers.

Life & Career

Rodgers was part of a famous naval "dynasty" that saw members serving as commissioned officers in the Navy from its founding through the early Twentieth Century. He was born in Washington, DC but was appointed to the Naval Academy from California, graduating with the Class of 1878. One notable early career assignment came when he was stationed at the United States Naval Observatory in 1880-1881 while his father served as Superintendent.[1].

He received the usual early-career promotions. He was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 1 April, 1882,[2] to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 4 May, 1889,[3] and to the rank of Lieutenant on 4 February, 1894.[4]

Rodgers received his first command when he was appointed the first commanding officer of torpedo boat Foote in August, 1897. He remained in command as the United States entered the Spanish American War, seeing action in April, 1898 at Cardenas and Morro Island.[5]

Rodgers was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 19 February, 1901.[6] In 1905 he served as Executive Officer of battleship Wisconsin and was promoted to the rank of Commander on 27 December, 1905.[7][8] The following year he became commanding officer of gunboat Wilmington and remained in command into 1907.[9][10]

Rodgers was promoted to the rank of Captain on 4 December, 1909. Just twelve days later, he assumed command of battleship Georgia and held this command until late 1911. At that time, he was appointed President of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. In December, 1913, he relinquished this command and went to sea as commanding officer of battleship Delaware until June, 1915.[11][12][13][14]

After service on the General Board, Rodgers was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in January, 1917, to date from 29 August, 1916 - among the first group promoted by selection rather than seniority.[15] He had been appointed Commander, Train, Atlantic Fleet on 14 August, 1916.[16] He held this command throughout American involvement in World War I, and was awarded the Navy Cross for his efforts.{{[17]

In December, 1918, Rodgers assumed command of the Asiatic Fleet. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Vice Admiral on 28 June, 1919 and was superseded in command on 1 September, 1919. He remained in command of a division of the fleet into January, 1920.[18][19]

Rodgers' last assignment, in his permanent rank of Rear Admiral, was as Senior Member of the General Board until his retirement for age on 4 February, 1924.[20] In retirement he was President of the Naval Historical Foundation and published two books on naval history. Promoted on the Retired List to Vice Admiral on 21 June, 1930, he died in Bethesda, Maryland in 1944.[21][22]


See Also

Bibliography

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of U.S.S. Foote
7 Aug, 1897[23][24] – Oct, 1898 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Carlos G. Calkins 		Captain of U.S.S. Wilmington
after 1 Jan, 1906[25] – 1907[26] 		Succeeded by
William R. Rush
Preceded by
Edward F. Qualtrough 		Captain of U.S.S. Georgia
21 Dec, 1909[27] – 23 Nov, 1911[28][29][Inference] 		Succeeded by
Marbury Johnston
Preceded by
Hugh Rodman 		Captain of U.S.S. Delaware
22 Dec, 1913[30] – 15 Jun, 1915[31][32][Inference] 		Succeeded by
William A. Gill
Preceded by
? 		Commander Train, Atlantic Fleet
14 Aug, 1916[33] – c. Oct, 1918[34] 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Austin M. Knight 		Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet
7 Dec, 1918 – 1 Sep, 1919 		Succeeded by
Albert Gleaves
Preceded by
George Dewey
as President, General Board 		Senior Member, General Board
Apr, 1920 – 4 Feb, 1924 		Succeeded by
Charles H. McMorris
as President, General Board

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Register of Officers, 1881. pp. 42-43.
  2. ↑ Register of Officers, 1883. pp. 40-41.
  3. ↑ Register of Officers, 1890. pp. 26-27.
  4. ↑ Register of Officers, 1895. pp. 22-23.
  5. ↑ Register of Officers, 1899. p. 20.
  6. ↑ Register of Officers, 1902. pp. 20-21.
  7. ↑ Register of Officers, 1906. pp. 18-19, 187.
  8. ↑ Register of Officers, 1907. pp. 14-15.
  9. ↑ Register of Officers, 1907. pp. 14, 199.
  10. ↑ Register of Officers, 1908. p. 14.
  11. ↑ Register of Officers, 1911. pp. 10-11.
  12. ↑ Register of Officers, 1912. p. 10.
  13. ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. p. 10.
  14. ↑ Baltimore Sun 4 February, 1924 p. 9.
  15. ↑ Washington Times 6 January, 1917 p. 1.
  16. ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. pp. 8-9.
  17. ↑ Navy Directory 1 March, 1918 p. 142.
  18. ↑ Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 10-11.
  19. ↑ Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 p. 548.
  20. ↑ Register of Officers, 1925. pp. 306-307, 396.
  21. ↑ Register of Officers, 1933. p. 386.
  22. ↑ Register of Officers, 1944. p. 745.
  23. ↑ Register of Officers, 1898. p. 115.
  24. ↑ Wikipedia.
  25. ↑ Register of Officers, 1907. p. 14.
  26. ↑ Register of Officers, 1908. p. 14.
  27. ↑ Register of Officers, 1911. p. 10.
  28. ↑ Register of Officers, 1912. p. 12.
  29. ↑ Register of Officers, 1911. p. 10.
  30. ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. p. 10.
  31. ↑ Register of Officers, 1915. p. 10.
  32. ↑ Register of Officers, 1916. p. 10.
  33. ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. p. 8.
  34. ↑ Washington Post 27 October, 1918 p. 6.

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