Henry Braid Wilson, Jr. (23 February 1861 – 30 January 1954) was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War I.
Henry Braid Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Henry Braid Wilson | |
| Born | 23 February 1861 Camden, New Jersey, US |
| Died | 30 January 1954 (aged 92) New York City, US |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1881–1925 |
| Rank |  Admiral |
| Commands | USS North Dakota (BB-29) Board of Inspection and Survey USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet U.S. Naval Forces, France U.S. Atlantic Fleet U.S. Battle Fleet United States Naval Academy |
| Battles / wars | Spanish–American War World War I |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army) World War I Victory Medal |
| Relations | MG Patrick J. Hurley, son-in-law |
Biography
editWilson was a native of Camden, New Jersey. 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 in 1916.
During World War I, he served as commander, Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet and then commander, U.S. Naval Forces, France.[1] 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. Wilson retired in 1925, following forty-four years of service.
Wilson died in 1954 in New York City; at the time of his death he was the oldest living admiral of the U.S. Navy. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[2]
Wilson's son-in-law was Hoover Administration Secretary of War and Major General Patrick J. Hurley.
Medals and commendations
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Namesake and honors
edit- USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7), a guided missile destroyer, was named for him.
- A portion of U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey passing through Camden, New Jersey is named Admiral Wilson Boulevard.
References
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- ^ "Account of the Operations of the American Navy in France During the War with Germany".
- ^ "Wilson, Henry B". ANC Explorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
- History of the Fleet Forces Command, formerly the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
- Camden People - Admiral Henry Braid Wilson Jr.
- CamdenHistory.com - Admiral Henry B. Wilson Jr.
- short bio from DANFS
- DANFS History of U.S.S. Pennsylvania BB-38
- INSERV Presidents [1]
- US Navy Biography of Admiral Henry B. Wilson [2]