Robert Harris Wyman

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Rear Admiral Robert Harris Wyman, (12 July, 1822 – 2 December, 1882) served in the U.S. Navy.

Life & Career

Wyman was born in New Hampshire, the son of a naval officer, and was appointed Midshipman in 1837. Wyman saw active service in the Mexican-American War and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 16 July, 1850.[1]

In 1861 he served on screw sloop Richmond and may have temporarily commanded the ship on its return from the Mediterranean.[2] After the outbreak of the Civil War, he commanded the tug Yankee and screw sloop Pawnee in 1861, and commanded the Potomac River Flotilla from December, 1861 to June, 1862. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 16 July, 1862.[3][4] Later in 1862 he commanded gunboat Sonoma and sloop Wachusett and in 1863 he commanded brig Santiago de Cuba.[5][6]

Following the war he was appointed to command screw frigate Colorado from 1865 to 1867. During this command tour, Wyman was promoted to the rank of Captain on 25 July, 1866. In 1867 he transferred to command screw sloop Ticonderoga, remaining aboard until 1869.[7][8][9][10]

From October, 1870 until 1878 Wyman was the Superintendent of the Hydrographic Office, overseeing the modernization of the Navy's charts and maps. While serving as Chief Hydrographer, Wyman was promoted to the rank of Commodore on 19 July, 1872 and to the rank of Rear Admiral on 26 April, 1878.[11][12]

Wyman flew his flag at sea as the commander of the North Atlantic Squadron from January, 1879 to May, 1882. He then went ashore as Chair of the Lighthouse Board until his death in Washington DC from a sudden onset of "paralysis".[13][14][15]


See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Captain of U.S.S. Richmond
1861[16]
Succeeded by
James Alden, Jr.
Preceded by
?
Captain of U.S.S. Wachusett
1862
Succeeded by
Frederick Pearson
Preceded by
?
Captain of U.S.S. Colorado
before Jun, 1865[17] – before Jun, 1867
Succeeded by
Bancroft Gherardi
Preceded by
?
Captain of U.S.S. Ticonderoga
Jun, 1867[18] – Apr, 1869[19]
Succeeded by
Bartlett J. Cromwell
Preceded by
John C. Howell
Commanding North Atlantic Squadron
17 Jan, 1879[20] – 1 May, 1882
Succeeded by
George H. Cooper

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1860. pp. 34-35.
  2. Register of Officers, 1861. pp. 28-29, 104.
  3. Register of Officers, 1866. pp. 20-21.
  4. Wyman Papers Finding Aid
  5. Register of Officers, 1862. p. 16.
  6. New York Daily Herald 29 May, 1863 p. 4.
  7. Register of Officers, 1866. pp. 20-21.
  8. Register of Officers, 1867. pp. 16-17.
  9. Register of Officers, 1868. pp. 16-17.
  10. New York Times 30 April, 1869 p. 5.
  11. Register of Officers, 1875. pp. 12-13.
  12. Register of Officers, 1879. pp. 10-11.
  13. Baltimore Sun 18 January, 1879 p. 1.
  14. Register of Officers, 1882. pp. 10-11, 158.
  15. New York Times 3 December, 1882 p. 2.
  16. Register of Officers, 1861. p. 104.
  17. New York Daily Herald 24 June, 1865 p. 5.
  18. Register of Officers, 1868. pp. 16-17.
  19. New York Times 30 April, 1869 p. 5.
  20. Baltimore Sun 18 January, 1879 p. 1.