Henry Braid Wilson
Encyclopedia
Henry Braid Wilson, Jr. (23 February 1861 – 30 January 1954) was an Admiral
in the United States Navy
during World War I
.
. He joined the United States Navy in the latter part of the nineteenth century and continued to serve for over forty years. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1881, His assignments included duties as Commanding Officer of the USS North Dakota
, Inspector
, Senior Inspector and President of the Board of Inspection and Survey
from November 1913 until May 1916, and Commanding Officer of the USS Pennsylvania
(BB-38) 1916.
During World War I
, he served as Commander, Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet and then Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, France
. After the World War he served as Commander-In-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet 1919-1921, Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Battle Fleet and later Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy 1921-1925, two notable students of his at the academy were cadets and future Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
, class of 1922, and Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, class of 1923. Admiral Wilson retired in 1925, following forty-four years of service.
Admiral Wilson died in 1954 in New York City
, at the time of his death he was the oldest living admiral of the United States Navy
.
Admiral Wilson's son-in-law was Hoover Administration United States Secretary of War
Patrick J. Hurley
.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in 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...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
Henry Wilson was a native of Camden, New JerseyCamden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
. He joined the United States Navy in the latter part of the nineteenth century and continued to serve for over forty years. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1881, His assignments included duties as Commanding Officer of the USS North Dakota
USS North Dakota (BB-29)
USS North Dakota , a Delaware-class battleship, was the first ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the U.S. state of North Dakota....
, Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
, Senior Inspector and President of the Board of Inspection and Survey
Board of Inspection and Survey
The Board of Inspection and Survey is a U.S. Navy organization whose purpose is to inspect and assess material condition of Naval vessels.The Board is currently headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.- INSURV teams :...
from November 1913 until May 1916, and Commanding Officer of the USS Pennsylvania
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)
USS Pennsylvania was a United States Navy super-dreadnought battleship. She was the third Navy ship named for the state of Pennsylvania....
(BB-38) 1916.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served as Commander, Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet and then Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. After the World War he served as Commander-In-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet 1919-1921, Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Battle Fleet and later Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy 1921-1925, two notable students of his at the academy were cadets and future Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman George Rickover was a four-star admiral of the United States Navy who directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of Naval Reactors...
, class of 1922, and Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, class of 1923. Admiral Wilson retired in 1925, following forty-four years of service.
Admiral Wilson died in 1954 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, at the time of his death he was the oldest living admiral 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...
.
Admiral Wilson's son-in-law was Hoover Administration United States Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
Patrick J. Hurley
Patrick J. Hurley
Patrick Jay Hurley was an American soldier, statesman, and diplomat....
.
Medals and commendations
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast... |
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Army Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (Army) The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great... |
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Sampson Medal Sampson Medal The Sampson Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy which was first authorized in 1901. The decoration was awarded to those personnel who were assigned in the fleet of Rear Admiral William T... |
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Spanish Campaign Medal Spanish Campaign Medal The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those members of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish-American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish Campaign Medal, one for members of the United... |
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China Relief Expedition Medal China Relief Expedition Medal The China Relief Expedition Medal was a decoration of the United States military which was issued to members of both the United States Navy and the United States Marines for service in the China Relief Expedition between 1900 and 1901 during the Boxer Rebellion. The medal was authorized by General... |
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Philippine Campaign Medal Philippine Campaign Medal The Philippine Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military members in the Philippine-American War between the years of 1899 and 1913. Although a single service medal, the Philippine Campaign Medal was issued under... |
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World War I Victory Medal with "Overseas" clasp |
Namesake and honors
- USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7)USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7)USS Henry B. Wilson , named for Admiral Henry Braid Wilson, was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile armed destroyer laid down by Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan on 28 February 1958, launched on 22 April 1959 sponsored by Mrs. Patrick J. Hurley, daughter of Admiral Wilson, and...
, a guided missile destroyer, was named for him.
- A portion of U.S. Route 30 in New JerseyU.S. Route 30 in New JerseyU.S. Route 30 is a U.S. highway running from Astoria, Oregon east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of New Jersey, US 30 runs from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge at the Delaware River in Camden, Camden County while concurrent with Interstate 676 southeast to Virginia...
passing through Camden, New JerseyCamden, New JerseyThe city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, Admiral Wilson Boulevard.