William Henry Hudson Southerland
Encyclopedia
William Henry Hudson Southerland (10 July 1852–30 January 1933) was a rear admiral
in the United States Navy
. He commanded several ships in Cuban waters during the Spanish-American War
, and later served as Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet
.
, Southerland first joined the Union Navy
as a volunteer towards the end of the Civil War, serving for only a brief time. He re-enlisted in early 1867 as a naval apprentice, finally entering the United States Naval Academy
in June 1868. After graduating in June 1872 he served aboard the sloop . After a year at sea, he was commissioned as an ensign
.
Over the next 37 years, he served in varied positions at sea and ashore, including duty with the Hydrographic Office
, the Bureau of Equipment, and the Board of Inspection and Survey
. During the Spanish–American War, he commanded the gunboat in the blockade of Cuba
n ports; and, in 1905, he returned to the Caribbean
to command and to act as Senior Officer, Naval Forces in Santo Domingo
. Promoted to captain in 1906, he commanded the battleship of the Great White Fleet
in 1907-09.
Appointed rear admiral
on 4 May 1910, he served as President of the Board of Inspection and Survey for Shore Stations until becoming Commander, 2d Division, Pacific Fleet
in March 1911, and commanded naval forces in the Nicaragua Expedition. A year later, he became Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet
; and, in March 1913, he left the fleet to take up duties on the General Board
.
On his retirement on 10 July 1914 Southerland was the last Civil War naval veteran still in active service, and one of very few to rise from enlisted man to admiral in the course of his career.
Rear Admiral Southerland died in Washington, D.C.
, on 30 January 1933.
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 :...
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...
. He commanded several ships in Cuban waters 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...
, and later served as Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
.
Biography
Born in New York CityNew 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...
, Southerland first joined the Union Navy
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
as a volunteer towards the end of the Civil War, serving for only a brief time. He re-enlisted in early 1867 as a naval apprentice, finally entering 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 June 1868. After graduating in June 1872 he served aboard the sloop . After a year at sea, he was commissioned as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
.
Over the next 37 years, he served in varied positions at sea and ashore, including duty with the Hydrographic Office
Hydrographic office
A hydrographic office is an organization which is devoted to acquiring and publishing hydrographic information.Historically, the main tasks of hydrographic offices were the conduction of hydrographic surveys and the publication of nautical charts...
, the Bureau of Equipment, and 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 :...
. During the Spanish–American War, he commanded the gunboat in the blockade of 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 ports; and, in 1905, he returned to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
to command and to act as Senior Officer, Naval Forces in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. Promoted to captain in 1906, he commanded the battleship of the Great White Fleet
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
in 1907-09.
Appointed 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 :...
on 4 May 1910, he served as President of the Board of Inspection and Survey for Shore Stations until becoming Commander, 2d Division, Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
in March 1911, and commanded naval forces in the Nicaragua Expedition. A year later, he became Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet , is the title of the United States Navy officer who commands the United States Pacific Fleet. Originally established in 1907 as a two-star rear admiral's billet, the position has been held by a four-star admiral since March 19, 1915.Between 1907 and December 6, 1922,...
; and, in March 1913, he left the fleet to take up duties on the General Board
General Board of the United States Navy
The General Board of the United States Navy was an advisory body of the United States Navy, effectively a naval general staff. The General Board was established by general order 544, issued on March 13, 1900 by John Davis Long. The order was officially recognized by Congress in 1916...
.
On his retirement on 10 July 1914 Southerland was the last Civil War naval veteran still in active service, and one of very few to rise from enlisted man to admiral in the course of his career.
Rear Admiral Southerland died in 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....
, on 30 January 1933.