Willard H. Brownson
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral Willard Herbert Brownson, USN (July 8, 1845 – 16 March 1935) was a United States
Navy officer whose career included service against pirates in Mexico
, and service during the Spanish-American War
. He also served a term as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
.
, Brownson graduated from the Naval Academy in 1865. He served in the North Atlantic Squadron
until 1868 when he was assigned to the Pacific Fleet. In 1870, during his tour of duty on Mohican
, Brownson and a detachment of men fought the Battle of Boca Teacapan
against the pirate ship Forward in Mexican
waters. During the fighting American marines and sailors captured the enemy ship and defeated a superior force of pirates positioned at a shore battery.
In 1872, he reported for duty at the Navy Academy's Department of Mathematics. Three years later the young Lieutenant was sent to the Asiatic Fleet. Brownson returned to the Naval Academy in 1878 as Assistant Commandant of Cadets. In 1881, he was ordered to the Coast and Geodetic Survey as a Lieutenant Commander where he commanded the ship Blake until 1884. After brief duty as executive officer of Powhatan, he was named Inspector of Hydrography for the Coast Survey.
From 1889 to 1894 he commanded several ships, and was promoted to Commander in 1891. He commanded the protected cruiser
Detroit
(C-10) at Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
, during the revolution of 1893–94. During which Brownson protected American commerce by firing on the rebel cruiser Trajano in a short naval engagement
which earned him notoriety as a bold leader. After a return to the Naval Academy as Commandant of Cadets, Brownson served for two years on the Board of Inspection and Survey
. He commanded Yankee
and participated in the Battle of Guantánamo Bay during the Spanish-American War
. In it two Spanish gunboat
s and a few infantry
companies attempted to resist an American and Cuba
n capture of the bay. The result was an important victory for Cuban and United States Navy forces.
In 1899 he achieved the rank of Captain and command of the battleship
Alabama
(BB-8), and from 1902 to 1905 was Superintendent of the Naval Academy.
Brownson was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1905, when he hoisted his flag on board West Virginia
(ACR-5) as Commander, 4th Division, North Atlantic Fleet. He served as Commander, Special Service Squadron in Central America
n Waters and became Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet 15 October 1906.
In 1907, he was assigned as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation
, which handled the Navy's personnel matters. In July of that year, he was transferred to the retired list, but continued to serve in his post at the Bureau of Navigation until December. That month, President Theodore Roosevelt
decided to give command of hospital ship
s to Navy doctors, against the advice of Brownson, who then resigned from the Navy. A storm of protest arose from within the Navy and from the public, but Brownson's active Naval career was over.
Brownson married Isabella Roberts in July 1872. Their first child, Henry was born in 1874 and died in 1876 shortly after his father left for the Asiatic Station. The following spring his daughter Harriet was born. In 1878 another son, Roswell was born and in 1894 a second daughter Caroline, was born. Caroline Brownson married Thomas C. Hart
, later Admiral and the last Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Station. Harriet married Admiral Charles Lincoln Hussey who as an Ensign received the Navy Cross during the Spanish-American War.
Brownson died at Washington, D.C.
, 16 March 1935.
s have been named USS Brownson
in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Navy officer whose career included service against pirates in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and service 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 also served a term 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...
.
Early Life and Career
A native of Lyons, New YorkLyons (town), New York
Lyons is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 5,831 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Lyons , France....
, Brownson graduated from the Naval Academy in 1865. He served in the North Atlantic Squadron
North Atlantic Squadron
The North Atlantic Squadron was a section of the United States Navy operating in the North Atlantic. It was renamed as the North Atlantic Fleet in 1902. In 1905 the European and South Atlantic Squadrons were abolished and absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet. On Jan...
until 1868 when he was assigned to the Pacific Fleet. In 1870, during his tour of duty on Mohican
USS Mohican (1859)
The first USS Mohican was a steam sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for the Mohican tribe....
, Brownson and a detachment of men fought the Battle of Boca Teacapan
Battle of Boca Teacapan
The Battle of Boca Teacapan was the result of a United States Navy boat expedition to destroy a Mexican pirate ship which was attacking targets in the Pacific Ocean. United States sailors and marines in several small boats pursued the pirates to the Boca Teacapan, in Sinaloa and up the Teacapan...
against the pirate ship Forward in Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
waters. During the fighting American marines and sailors captured the enemy ship and defeated a superior force of pirates positioned at a shore battery.
In 1872, he reported for duty at the Navy Academy's Department of Mathematics. Three years later the young Lieutenant was sent to the Asiatic Fleet. Brownson returned to the Naval Academy in 1878 as Assistant Commandant of Cadets. In 1881, he was ordered to the Coast and Geodetic Survey as a Lieutenant Commander where he commanded the ship Blake until 1884. After brief duty as executive officer of Powhatan, he was named Inspector of Hydrography for the Coast Survey.
From 1889 to 1894 he commanded several ships, and was promoted to Commander in 1891. He commanded the protected cruiser
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
Detroit
USS Detroit (C-10)
The USS Detroit was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy which was launched 28 October 1891 by Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore, Maryland, sponsored by Miss F. Malster and commissioned 20 July 1893 with Commander Willard Herbert Brownson in command...
(C-10) at Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, during the revolution of 1893–94. During which Brownson protected American commerce by firing on the rebel cruiser Trajano in a short naval engagement
Rio de Janeiro Affair
The Rio de Janeiro Affair refers to a series of incidents during the Brazilian Naval Revolt in January 1894. Following three attacks on American merchant ships in the harbour of Rio de Janeiro, a bloodless naval engagement occurred between a United States Navy warship and an ironclad of Rear...
which earned him notoriety as a bold leader. After a return to the Naval Academy as Commandant of Cadets, Brownson served for two years on 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 :...
. He commanded Yankee
USS Yankee (1892)
USS Yankee was originally El Norte, a steamer built in 1892 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.. The ship was acquired by the United States Navy from the Southern Pacific Company on 6 April 1898. The ship was renamed and commissioned at New York on 14 April...
and participated in the Battle of Guantánamo Bay 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...
. In it two Spanish gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s and a few infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
companies attempted to resist an American and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n capture of the bay. The result was an important victory for Cuban and United States Navy forces.
In 1899 he achieved the rank of Captain and command of the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
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), and from 1902 to 1905 was Superintendent of the Naval Academy.
Brownson was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1905, when he hoisted his flag on board West Virginia
USS West Virginia (ACR-5)
The first USS West Virginia , also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 5", and later renamed Huntington , was a United States Navy armored cruiser....
(ACR-5) as Commander, 4th Division, North Atlantic Fleet. He served as Commander, Special Service Squadron in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
n Waters and became Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet 15 October 1906.
In 1907, he was assigned as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation
Bureau of Navigation
The Bureau of Navigation was an agency of the U.S. government established in 1884 to enforce laws relating to the construction, equipment, operation, inspection, safety, and documentation of merchant vessels. The Bureau of Navigation was an agency of the U.S. government established in 1884 to...
, which handled the Navy's personnel matters. In July of that year, he was transferred to the retired list, but continued to serve in his post at the Bureau of Navigation until December. That month, President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
decided to give command of hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
s to Navy doctors, against the advice of Brownson, who then resigned from the Navy. A storm of protest arose from within the Navy and from the public, but Brownson's active Naval career was over.
Brownson married Isabella Roberts in July 1872. Their first child, Henry was born in 1874 and died in 1876 shortly after his father left for the Asiatic Station. The following spring his daughter Harriet was born. In 1878 another son, Roswell was born and in 1894 a second daughter Caroline, was born. Caroline Brownson married Thomas C. Hart
Thomas C. Hart
Thomas Charles Hart was an admiral of the United States Navy, whose service extended from the Spanish-American War through World War II. Following his retirement from the Navy, he served briefly as a United States Senator from Connecticut.-Life and career:Hart was born in Genesee County, Michigan...
, later Admiral and the last Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Station. Harriet married Admiral Charles Lincoln Hussey who as an Ensign received the Navy Cross during the Spanish-American War.
Brownson died at Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, 16 March 1935.
Namesakes
Two 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...
s have been named USS Brownson
USS Brownson
Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Brownson, in honor of Rear Admiral Willard H. Brownson:* The , was a Fletcher-class destroyer, launched in 1942 and sunk in action 1943....
in his honor.