William Andrew Gill
Rear Admiral William Andrew Gill, (8 January, 1859 – 10 October, 1918) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Gill was born in Pennsylvania and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state as a member of the Class of 1879. He was commissioned Ensign on 26 June, 1884 and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 25 June, 1891, to the rank of Lieutenant on 4 October, 1895, to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 9 October, 1901, and to the rank of Commander on 5 August, 1906.[1][2][3]
Gill was appointed to command store ship Celtic from 1902 to 1903, and later served as Executive Officer on armoured cruiser Maryland.[4][5] From June 1908 to May, 1909 he commanded the Pacific Torpedo Fleet,[6] before being appointed to command battleship Texas, station ship in Charleston, South Carolina, while also serving as Captain of the Yard at the Charleston Navy Yard.[7]
Gill was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 July, 1910. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed to command armoured cruiser Colorado, holding command until December, 1912.[8][9] His final command at sea was battleship Delaware, which he commanded from June 1915 to May, 1916.[10]
Gill then served as President of the Board of Inspection and Survey, remaining in this position throughout America's participation in World War I.[11][12]
Gill was promoted to the temporary rank of Rear Admiral, with the nomination being announced in late August 1918. On 5 October, 1918, he was aboard a patrol craft observing acceptance trials of submarine O-13 when the two vessels collided, sinking the patrol craft. Gill, reportedly the last man into the water off the sinking ship, was hospitalized and, despite being expected to recover, died of the effects of his immersion in Bridgeport, Connecticut five days later.[13][14]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Command |
In Command, Pacific Torpedo Fleet 10 Jun, 1908[15] – 23 Oct, 1909[16][Inference] |
Succeeded by Louis C. Richardson |
| Preceded by Charles B. T. Moore |
Captain of U.S.S. Colorado 12 Aug, 1910[17] – c. early 1913[18][19] |
Succeeded by William W. Gilmer |
| Preceded by William L. Rodgers |
Captain of U.S.S. Delaware 15 Jun, 1915[20] |
Succeeded by Archibald H. Scales |
Footnotes
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1899. pp. 20-21.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1906. pp. 18-19.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1909. pp. 14-15.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1903. p. 20.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1906. p. 184.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1909. p. 14.
- ↑ The State (Columbia, SC) 5 May, 1909 p. 8.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1912. pp. 10-11.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. p. 10.
- ↑ Washington Post 15 October, 1918 p. 9.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. p. 893.
- ↑ Bridgeport Telegram 11 October, 1918 p. 20
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1909. p. 14.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1911. p. 22.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1911. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1912. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. p. 12.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1916. p. 10.
