Charles P. Nelson
Encyclopedia
For the U.S. representative from Maine, see Charles P. Nelson (congressman)
Charles Preston Nelson (5 February 1877 - 16 November 1935) was an officer of the United States Navy
. He would attain the rank of Rear Admiral
by the end of his career. He is known for his work with torpedo boat
s and submarine
s.
Nelson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and was appointed naval cadet 19 May 1894; and graduated 2 April 1898. During the Spanish-American War
, he served in New Orleans (CL-22)
, participating in the blockade and but was absent at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
. Then sent to the Far East, he served in the Philippines
during the Philippine-American War
.
Upon returning to the United States, he worked with the torpedo boat training command. Also on 19 September 1903, USS Plunger (Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 2)
was commissioned with Lieutenant
Nelson in command. This boat would later be renamed A-1 and classified
SS-2.
In 1912, he served as First Lieutenant of Illinois (BB-7)
and later of Ohio (BB-12)
. Appointed to command of Leonidas (AD-7)
, a tender for submarine chasers, he also assumed command of the submarine chaser divisions ordered to Corfu, Greece. Twelve of the submarine chasers under his command participated with the British and Italian naval forces in the destruction
of the Austrian naval base at Durazzo on 2 October 1918. As a screen for heavy ships during the bombardment, his craft were subjected to heavy fire. Returning to base, they helped screen HMS Weymouth
. For his services during this action, Nelson was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
and several foreign decorations.
From 1919 until 1929, he was assigned duties in the 3rd and 4th Naval Districts. In January 1929, he was appointed coordinator of the Seattle area, in which capacity he served until he retired as Rear Admiral 30 June 1933. He died at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital 16 November 1935.
, the USS Nelson (DD-623)
, was named after him and it fought during World War II
Charles P. Nelson (congressman)
Charles P. "Charlie" Nelson was a member of the US House of Representatives from Maine. He was born in Waterville, Maine, in 1907. He graduated from Cony High School in Augusta, Maine and from Colby College in Waterville. Later, he attended Harvard Law School, earning his Juris Doctor, and...
Charles Preston Nelson (5 February 1877 - 16 November 1935) was an officer of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He would attain the rank of Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
by the end of his career. He is known for his work with torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s and submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s.
Nelson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and was appointed naval cadet 19 May 1894; and graduated 2 April 1898. During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, he served in New Orleans (CL-22)
USS New Orleans (CL-22)
USS New Orleans was a United States Navy protected cruiser.She was laid down in 1895 as Amazonas for the Brazilian Navy by Armstrong, Mitchell and Company, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, launched on 4 December 1896, purchased by the Navy while building on 16 March 1898; and commissioned 18 March 1898...
, participating in the blockade and but was absent at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought between Spain and the United States on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Navy's Caribbean Squadron.-Spanish Fleet:...
. Then sent to the Far East, he served in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
.
Upon returning to the United States, he worked with the torpedo boat training command. Also on 19 September 1903, USS Plunger (Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 2)
USS Plunger (SS-2)
USS Plunger SS-2 was one of the earliest submarines of the United States Navy. She was the lead ship of the her class and was later renamed A-1 when she was designated an A-type submarine.-Early service:...
was commissioned with Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Nelson in command. This boat would later be renamed A-1 and classified
Hull classification symbol
The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...
SS-2.
In 1912, he served as First Lieutenant of Illinois (BB-7)
USS Illinois (BB-7)
USS Illinois , the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 21st state, was a battleship, the lead ship of her class....
and later of Ohio (BB-12)
USS Ohio (BB-12)
USS Ohio , a Maine-class battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named for the 17th state.Ohio was laid down on 22 April 1899 by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California. She was launched on 18 May 1901 sponsored by Miss Helen Deschler, a relative of Governor George K. Nash of...
. Appointed to command of Leonidas (AD-7)
USS Leonidas (AD-7)
USS Leonidas was a destroyer tender, the lone ship in her class, named for Leonidas I , and the second United States naval vessel to bear the name....
, a tender for submarine chasers, he also assumed command of the submarine chaser divisions ordered to Corfu, Greece. Twelve of the submarine chasers under his command participated with the British and Italian naval forces in the destruction
Battle of Durazzo (1918)
The Second Battle of Durazzo, or the Bombardment of Durazzo was a naval battle fought in the Adriatic Sea during World War I. A large Allied fleet led by the Regia Marina attacked the enemy held naval base at Durazzo, Albania. The fleet destroyed the Austro-Hungarian shore defenses and skirmished...
of the Austrian naval base at Durazzo on 2 October 1918. As a screen for heavy ships during the bombardment, his craft were subjected to heavy fire. Returning to base, they helped screen HMS Weymouth
HMS Weymouth (1910)
HMS Weymouth was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy launched on 18 November 1910 from the yards of Armstrong Whitworth. She was the lead ship of the Weymouth subgroup....
. For his services during this action, Nelson was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
and several foreign decorations.
From 1919 until 1929, he was assigned duties in the 3rd and 4th Naval Districts. In January 1929, he was appointed coordinator of the Seattle area, in which capacity he served until he retired as Rear Admiral 30 June 1933. He died at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital 16 November 1935.
Namesake
In 1942, a Gleaves-class destroyerDestroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
, the USS Nelson (DD-623)
USS Nelson (DD-623)
USS Nelson , a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rear Admiral Charles P. Nelson, who served during the Spanish-American War and World War I....
, was named after him and it fought during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...