Samuel Robison
Encyclopedia
Admiral Samuel Shelburne Robison CB
, USN (May 10, 1867 - November 20, 1952) was a United States Navy
officer whose service extended from the 1890s through the early 1930s. He held several major commands during World War I
, and from 1928-1931 served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
. In 1933, Admiral Robison also founded a Naval Preparatory Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey called Admiral Farragut Academy
.
He entered the United States Naval Academy
on September 4, 1884. After finishing his academic studies at Annapolis
he served the two years at sea as a Passed Naval Cadet in USS Omaha
on the Asiatic Station and was commissioned ensign July 1, 1890.
In 1891 he was transferred to USS Boston
, still on the Asiatic Station; and, from 1893, he served in USS Thetis until ordered to the Mare Island Navy Yard in 1895. In 1896 he returned to the Asiatic Station in Boston. In August 1899 he was assigned to the League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He joined Alabama
(BB-8) September 15, 1900, and two years later was transferred to Hull
(DD-7), a torpedo boat destroyer. From September 1904 to July 1906, he served with the Bureau of Equipment at Washington, D.C., then he returned to sea, serving first in Tennessee
(CA-10) and later in Pennsylvania
(ACR-4).
After a tour of duty in the Bureau of Engineering, he assumed command of Cincinnati
(C-7), a unit of the Asiatic Fleet, on October 25, 1911. Upon his return to the United States in April 1914, he became commanding officer of USS Jupiter (AC-3). He held the rank of captain from July 1, 1914, and he remained with Jupiter until August 8.
. He was also made a Companion of the Order of the Bath
for service to the British during the war.
In October 1918 he assumed command of Squadron 3, Patrol Force, and during the next month had additional duty as District Commander, Brest, France
. In November, he was appointed U.S. Naval Representative on the Commission for executing the Naval Terms of the Armistice with Germany. After his return to the United States in March 1919, he commanded the Boston Navy Yard
. In May 1921, he was sent to the Dominican Republic as Military Governor, serving until October 1922, when the Dominican Republic was turned back over to civilian control.
, with the rank of admiral
, from June 30, 1923. With USS Seattle (ACR-11)
as his flagship, he commanded the United States Fleet
during the year commencing August 1925. He then became Commandant of the 13th Naval District with the permanent rank of rear admiral. From June 1928 until his retirement in June 1931, he served as Superintendent of the Naval Academy.
For a number of years after his retirement, Admiral Robison was Superintendent of the Admiral Farragut Academy
, Toms River
. He died in Glendale, California
, on November 20, 1952.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, USN (May 10, 1867 - November 20, 1952) was a 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...
officer whose service extended from the 1890s through the early 1930s. He held several major commands 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...
, and from 1928-1931 served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. In 1933, Admiral Robison also founded a Naval Preparatory Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey called Admiral Farragut Academy
Admiral Farragut Academy
Admiral Farragut Academy is a college preparatory school with Naval training founded in 1933 in Pine Beach, New Jersey by, among others, Admiral Samuel Robison, one-time President of RCA, and former Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It is named after Admiral...
.
Early life and career
Robison was born on May 10, 1867 in Juniata County, PennsylvaniaJuniata County, Pennsylvania
Juniata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 24,636. Juniata County was created on March 2, 1831, from part of Mifflin County and named for the Juniata River. Its county seat is Mifflintown....
He entered the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on September 4, 1884. After finishing his academic studies at Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
he served the two years at sea as a Passed Naval Cadet in USS Omaha
USS Omaha (1869)
The first USS Omaha was laid down in 1867 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard as Astoria; launched 10 June 1869; she was renamed Omaha on 10 August 1869; and commissioned 12 September 1872, Captain John C...
on the Asiatic Station and was commissioned ensign July 1, 1890.
In 1891 he was transferred to USS Boston
USS Boston (1884)
The fifth USS Boston, a protected cruiser, was launched 4 December 1884 by John Roach & Sons, Chester, Pennsylvania, and commissioned 2 May 1887, Captain Francis M. Ramsay in command....
, still on the Asiatic Station; and, from 1893, he served in USS Thetis until ordered to the Mare Island Navy Yard in 1895. In 1896 he returned to the Asiatic Station in Boston. In August 1899 he was assigned to the League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He joined Alabama
USS Alabama (BB-8)
USS Alabama was an pre-dreadnought style battleship in the United States Navy. She was the second ship to carry her name.Alabama was laid down on 1 December 1896 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company. She was launched on 18 May 1898...
(BB-8) September 15, 1900, and two years later was transferred to Hull
USS Hull (DD-7)
USS Hull was a in the United States Navy, the second ship named for Commodore Isaac Hull.Hull was launched by Harlan & Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Delaware, on 21 June 1902; sponsored by Miss Mabel Hull, a descendant of Commodore Hull; and commissioned on 20 May 1903, Lieutenant Samuel Robison...
(DD-7), a torpedo boat destroyer. From September 1904 to July 1906, he served with the Bureau of Equipment at Washington, D.C., then he returned to sea, serving first in Tennessee
USS Tennessee (ACR-10)
The second USS Tennessee , also referred to "Armored Cruiser No. 10", and later renamed Memphis and renumbered CA-10, was a United States Navy armored cruiser, the lead ship of her class....
(CA-10) and later in Pennsylvania
USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4)
The second USS Pennsylvania , also referred to "Armored Cruiser No. 4", and later renamed Pittsburgh and numbered CA-4, was a United States Navy armored cruiser, the lead ship of her class....
(ACR-4).
After a tour of duty in the Bureau of Engineering, he assumed command of Cincinnati
USS Cincinnati (C-7)
USS Cincinnati was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy and was launched on 10 November 1892 by New York Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss S. Mosby; and commissioned on 16 June 1894, Captain Henry Glass in command...
(C-7), a unit of the Asiatic Fleet, on October 25, 1911. Upon his return to the United States in April 1914, he became commanding officer of USS Jupiter (AC-3). He held the rank of captain from July 1, 1914, and he remained with Jupiter until August 8.
World War I service
On October 12, 1915 he assumed command of and held that post until after the United States entered World War I. From July 1917 until September 1918, he commanded the Atlantic Submarine Force with additional duty as General Supervisor of all commissioned submarines in the Navy. For this duty he was awarded the Navy CrossNavy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
. He was also made a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
for service to the British during the war.
In October 1918 he assumed command of Squadron 3, Patrol Force, and during the next month had additional duty as District Commander, Brest, France
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
. In November, he was appointed U.S. Naval Representative on the Commission for executing the Naval Terms of the Armistice with Germany. After his return to the United States in March 1919, he commanded the Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
. In May 1921, he was sent to the Dominican Republic as Military Governor, serving until October 1922, when the Dominican Republic was turned back over to civilian control.
Post-war service and retirement
A member of the General Board of the Navy from December 1922 until June 1923, he was appointed Commander in Chief, Battle FleetBattle Fleet
The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941.The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This fleet comprised the main body of ships in the Navy,...
, with the rank of admiral
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"...
, from June 30, 1923. With USS Seattle (ACR-11)
USS Washington (ACR-11)
The seventh USS Washington , also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 11", and later renamed Seattle and renumbered CA-11 and IX-39, was a United States Navy Tennessee-class armored cruiser...
as his flagship, he commanded the United States Fleet
United States Fleet
The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The abbreviation CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. This title was disposed of and officially replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 . This...
during the year commencing August 1925. He then became Commandant of the 13th Naval District with the permanent rank of rear admiral. From June 1928 until his retirement in June 1931, he served as Superintendent of the Naval Academy.
For a number of years after his retirement, Admiral Robison was Superintendent of the Admiral Farragut Academy
Admiral Farragut Academy
Admiral Farragut Academy is a college preparatory school with Naval training founded in 1933 in Pine Beach, New Jersey by, among others, Admiral Samuel Robison, one-time President of RCA, and former Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It is named after Admiral...
, Toms River
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
. He died in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, on November 20, 1952.