Difference between revisions of "William Thomas Sampson"
Simon Harley (Talk | contribs) (Corrected error.) |
Simon Harley (Talk | contribs) (Made changes.) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | '''William Thomas Sampson''' ([[9 February]] [[1840]] – [[6 May]] [[1902]]) was a [[United States Navy]] [[admiral]] known for his victory in the [[Battle of Santiago de Cuba]] during the [[Spanish-American War]]. | + | [[Rear Admiral (United States Navy)|Rear Admiral]] '''William Thomas Sampson''' ([[9 February]] [[1840]] – [[6 May]] [[1902]]) was a [[United States Navy]] [[admiral]] known for his victory in the [[Battle of Santiago de Cuba]] during the [[Spanish-American War]]. |
He was born in [[Palmyra (town), New York|Palmyra, New York]], and entered the [[United States Naval Academy]] on [[24 September]] [[1857]]. After graduating first in his class four years later, he served as an instructor at the Academy. In [[1864]], he became the [[executive officer]] of the [[monitor warship type|monitor]] [[USS Patapsco (1862)|''Patapsco'']] of the [[South Atlantic Blockading Station]] and engaged in sweeping [[torpedo]]es off [[Charleston, South Carolina]]. He survived the loss of that ironclad on [[15 January]] [[1865]], when she struck a torpedo, exploded, and sank with a loss of 75 lives. | He was born in [[Palmyra (town), New York|Palmyra, New York]], and entered the [[United States Naval Academy]] on [[24 September]] [[1857]]. After graduating first in his class four years later, he served as an instructor at the Academy. In [[1864]], he became the [[executive officer]] of the [[monitor warship type|monitor]] [[USS Patapsco (1862)|''Patapsco'']] of the [[South Atlantic Blockading Station]] and engaged in sweeping [[torpedo]]es off [[Charleston, South Carolina]]. He survived the loss of that ironclad on [[15 January]] [[1865]], when she struck a torpedo, exploded, and sank with a loss of 75 lives. | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
Following duty in the [[steam frigate]] [[USS Colorado (1856)|''Colorado'']] on the [[European Station]], another tour as instructor at the Naval Academy, and in the [[Bureau of Navigation]] of the [[Navy Department]], he served in the [[screw sloop]] [[USS Congress (1868)|''Congress'']]. He then commanded [[USS Alert (1861)|''Alert'']], practice ship [[USS Mayflower|''Mayflower'']], and [[USS Swatara|''Swatara'']] while on duty at the Naval Academy. | Following duty in the [[steam frigate]] [[USS Colorado (1856)|''Colorado'']] on the [[European Station]], another tour as instructor at the Naval Academy, and in the [[Bureau of Navigation]] of the [[Navy Department]], he served in the [[screw sloop]] [[USS Congress (1868)|''Congress'']]. He then commanded [[USS Alert (1861)|''Alert'']], practice ship [[USS Mayflower|''Mayflower'']], and [[USS Swatara|''Swatara'']] while on duty at the Naval Academy. | ||
| − | During the next years, he was Assistant to the Superintendent of the [[United States Naval Observatory]], then Officer-in-Charge of the [[Naval Torpedo Station]] at [[Newport, Rhode Island]]. On [[9 September]] [[1886]], he became Superintendent of the Naval Academy. He was promoted to [[Captain]] on [[9 April]] [[1889]], reported to the [[Mare Island Navy Yard]] to fit out [[USS San Francisco (C-5)|''San Francisco'']], and assumed command when that [[protected cruiser]] was commissioned on [[15 November]] 1889. He was detached in June [[1892]] to serve as [[Inspector of Ordnance]] in the [[Washington Navy Yard]] and was appointed Chief of the [[Bureau of Ordnance]] on [[28 January]] [[1893]]. He assumed command of the [[battleship]] [[USS Iowa (BB-4)|''Iowa'']] on [[15 June]] [[1897]]. On [[17 February]] [[1898]], he was made President of the Board of Inquiry to investigate the destruction of the [[USS Maine (ACR-1)|''Maine'']]. On [[26 March]] 1898, he assumed command of the [[North Atlantic Station]], with the temporary rank of [[Rear Admiral]]. | + | During the next years, he was Assistant to the Superintendent of the [[United States Naval Observatory]], then Officer-in-Charge of the [[Naval Torpedo Station]] at [[Newport, Rhode Island]]. On [[9 September]] [[1886]], he became Superintendent of the Naval Academy. He was promoted to [[Captain]] on [[9 April]] [[1889]], reported to the [[Mare Island Navy Yard]] to fit out [[USS San Francisco (C-5)|''San Francisco'']], and assumed command when that [[protected cruiser]] was commissioned on [[15 November]] 1889. He was detached in June [[1892]] to serve as [[Inspector of Ordnance]] in the [[Washington Navy Yard]] and was appointed Chief of the [[Bureau of Ordnance]] on [[28 January]] [[1893]]. He assumed command of the [[battleship]] [[USS Iowa (BB-4)|''Iowa'']] on [[15 June]] [[1897]]. On [[17 February]] [[1898]], he was made President of the Board of Inquiry to investigate the destruction of the [[USS Maine (ACR-1)|''Maine'']]. On [[26 March]] 1898, he assumed command of the [[North Atlantic Station]], with the temporary rank of [[Rear Admiral (United States Navy)|Rear Admiral]]. |
The United States declared war against Spain on [[21 April]] 1898; and, eight days later, [[Admiral Cervera]]'s fleet sailed from the [[Cape Verde Islands]] for an uncertain destination. Admiral Sampson, in [[flagship]] [[USS New York (CA-2)|''New York'']], put to sea from [[Key West]] in search of the Spanish Fleet and established a close and efficient blockade on that fleet in the harbor of [[Santiago de Cuba|Santiago]] on [[1 June]] 1898. On the morning of [[3 July]] 1898, Cervera's fleet came out of the harbor and was completely destroyed in a running sea battle lasting five hours. The next day, Rear Admiral Sampson sent his famous message: "The Fleet under my command offers the nation as a Fourth of July present, the whole of Cervera's Fleet". | The United States declared war against Spain on [[21 April]] 1898; and, eight days later, [[Admiral Cervera]]'s fleet sailed from the [[Cape Verde Islands]] for an uncertain destination. Admiral Sampson, in [[flagship]] [[USS New York (CA-2)|''New York'']], put to sea from [[Key West]] in search of the Spanish Fleet and established a close and efficient blockade on that fleet in the harbor of [[Santiago de Cuba|Santiago]] on [[1 June]] 1898. On the morning of [[3 July]] 1898, Cervera's fleet came out of the harbor and was completely destroyed in a running sea battle lasting five hours. The next day, Rear Admiral Sampson sent his famous message: "The Fleet under my command offers the nation as a Fourth of July present, the whole of Cervera's Fleet". | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
[[Category:Personalities|Sampson, William Thomas]] | [[Category:Personalities|Sampson, William Thomas]] | ||
| − | + | [[Category:United States Navy Rear-Admirals|Sampson, William Thomas]] | |
| − | [[Category:United States Navy Admirals|Sampson, William Thomas]] | + | [[Category:United States Navy Flag Officers|Sampson, William Thomas]] |
Revision as of 13:17, 2 January 2008
Rear Admiral William Thomas Sampson (9 February 1840 – 6 May 1902) was a United States Navy admiral known for his victory in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War.
He was born in Palmyra, New York, and entered the United States Naval Academy on 24 September 1857. After graduating first in his class four years later, he served as an instructor at the Academy. In 1864, he became the executive officer of the monitor Patapsco of the South Atlantic Blockading Station and engaged in sweeping torpedoes off Charleston, South Carolina. He survived the loss of that ironclad on 15 January 1865, when she struck a torpedo, exploded, and sank with a loss of 75 lives.
Following duty in the steam frigate Colorado on the European Station, another tour as instructor at the Naval Academy, and in the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department, he served in the screw sloop Congress. He then commanded Alert, practice ship Mayflower, and Swatara while on duty at the Naval Academy.
During the next years, he was Assistant to the Superintendent of the United States Naval Observatory, then Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island. On 9 September 1886, he became Superintendent of the Naval Academy. He was promoted to Captain on 9 April 1889, reported to the Mare Island Navy Yard to fit out San Francisco, and assumed command when that protected cruiser was commissioned on 15 November 1889. He was detached in June 1892 to serve as Inspector of Ordnance in the Washington Navy Yard and was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance on 28 January 1893. He assumed command of the battleship Iowa on 15 June 1897. On 17 February 1898, he was made President of the Board of Inquiry to investigate the destruction of the Maine. On 26 March 1898, he assumed command of the North Atlantic Station, with the temporary rank of Rear Admiral.
The United States declared war against Spain on 21 April 1898; and, eight days later, Admiral Cervera's fleet sailed from the Cape Verde Islands for an uncertain destination. Admiral Sampson, in flagship New York, put to sea from Key West in search of the Spanish Fleet and established a close and efficient blockade on that fleet in the harbor of Santiago on 1 June 1898. On the morning of 3 July 1898, Cervera's fleet came out of the harbor and was completely destroyed in a running sea battle lasting five hours. The next day, Rear Admiral Sampson sent his famous message: "The Fleet under my command offers the nation as a Fourth of July present, the whole of Cervera's Fleet".
Sampson was appointed Cuban Commissioner on 20 August 1898 but resumed command of the North Atlantic Fleet in December. He became Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard in October 1899 and transferred to the Retired List on 9 February 1902. Rear Admiral Sampson died in Washington, D.C. a few months later and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
