Sepia Saturday = Rear Admiral Sampson

William Thomas Sampson

Rear Admiral, United States Navy

1840 - 1902

Best known for his victory in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War

He was appointed to the US Naval Academy in 1857, and graduated at the head of his class in 1861. He subsequently earned an LLD degree from Harvard in 1899.

He was promoted to Master, 1861 and commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1862. He was Executive Officer on the ironclad USS Patapsco when it was blown up by mine in Charleston Harbor. He was blown into water, but then rescued.

Advanced to Lieutenant Commander, 1866, Commander, 1874, Captain, 1889. He was Superintendet of the Naval Academy, 1886-90. An expert on ordnance, torpedoes, etc. With Lieutenant Joseph Strauss, he devised-perfected superimposed turrets introduced into the Navy in 1898. He was President, Board of Inquiry as to cause of the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, 1898, and after a declaration of war with Spain he commanded the North Atlantic Squadron with the rank of acting Rear Admiral. Promoted to Commodore, 1898, Rear Admiral, 1899.

During the Spanish-American his command numbered 125 vessels, the strongest ever organized for hostile purposes. His fleet captured many Spanish merchant vessels and blockade runners and finally defeated the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cevera. Appointed, 1898, one of three commanders to Cuba. Resumed command of North Atlantic fleet, later that year. Commandant, Boston USN Yard, Oct 14, 1899.

In 1865-67 he served on the USS Colorado in European Squadron, advancing to Lieutenant Commander, 1866. Again at USNA 1868-71, and, after service on the USS Congress in 1872 and European station in 1873 and promotion to Commander in 1874, he returned for third tour, 1874-78, as head of Physics Department. 1879-82 he commanded USS Swatara in the Asiatic Squadron, after 2 years as Assistant Superintendent of the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, during which time was delegate to International Prime Meridian Conference, 1884, he commanded the Naval torpedo station at Newport from 1884 to 1886. In 1886 he was named Superintendent of the Naval Academy.

Promoted to Captain in 1889, he left the Academy in 1890 to command the USS San Francisco. 1893-97 he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, where under his leadership much progress was made in such matters as introduction of smokeless powder and improvement of gunnery training. In 1897, he was given command of new battleship Iowa, joining the North Atlantic Squadron as senior Captain. During February-March 1898 served as president of the Naval Board investigating the sinking of the Maine in Havana harbor. In the latter month he was advanced to acting Rear Admiral, and named to succeed the ailing Montgomery Sicard in command of the North Atlantic Squadron.

On declaration of war against Spain in April, he proceeded from Key West to institute a blockade of northern coast of Cuba, his own plan to attack Havana directly having been overruled by the Navy Department. In May while location of the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cevera was yet unknown, he made a cruise east to Puerto Rico and on May 12 bombarded San Juan. He then returned to blockade and joined by "Flying Squadron" , who, though technically his senior, was placed under his command for the campaign.He sent Schley to reinforce the blockade of the southern coast, particularly at Cienfuegos and Santiago. Schley was tardy in movements, and Cevera slipped undetected into easily defended harbor at Santiago. When he was finally discovered there, Sampson concentrated his forces outside the harbor. He supported landing of Shafter's army at Daiquiri, June 22, and the capture of Siboney next day, and the subsequent advance to Santiago. During September-December 1898 in Cuba he served as 1 of 3 US commissioners. He was made permanent Rear ADmiral in March , and resumed command of his squadron until October 1899. He commanded the Boston Navy Yard until October 1901, until his retirment in February 1902.

He died on May 6, 1902 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Elisabeth Susan Buring Sampson is buried with him, as is his son, Commander Ralph E. Sampson and Ralph's wife, Marjorie L. Sampson and his son, William Thomas Sampson II, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army.

*****

Rear Admiral William T. Sampson is the second cousin to

Martha Sampson Johnsen, The Mister's maternal grandma!

The picture hangs with many other ancestors up the

staircase to The Mister's loft office.