Alfred Winsor Brown
Encyclopedia
Alfred Winsor Brown was a United States Navy
Captain who served as the 31st Naval Governor of Guam. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1907, serving aboard a number of ships in many different capacities soon after. He returned to the Academy on staff before serving as the first commanding officer
of the USS Tingey
. From 1924 to 1926, he served as Guamanian governor before attending the Naval War College
and serving on the staff of a number of high ranking naval officers. He then served as commanding officer of the USS Whitney
and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
. Soon after assuming command of the USS Arizona
, Brown died of a heart attack.
. He married Marguerite Boynton Brown, and had three children by her: Alfred Winsor Brown, Jr., Barbara Jean Brown, and Mary Boynton Brown. He was considered very religious.
He died on September 7, 1938 in an apartment hotel
in Long Beach, California
of a heart attack. His funeral service took place aboard the USS Arizona
, and he was later interred at Arlington National Cemetery
on September 14, 1938.
in 1903, graduating in 1907. In 1906, he began service aboard the USS Georgia
, transferring to Asiatic Squadron
and the USS Rhode Island
until 1912. In 1914, he transferred to the USS Vermont
before becoming navigator
aboard the USS Baltimore
. For 1916, he served as executive officer
aboard the USS Paducah.
In 1917, he returned to the Naval Academy as a staff member. In 1919, the USS Tingey
launched with Brown in command. He was stationed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility from 1923 until serving as governor at the Naval Base Guam. Beginning in 1925, he served as a member and recorder of the Board of Inspection and Survey
. From 1930 to 1931, he attended the Naval War College
, after which he served in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
and the office of the Chief of Naval Operations
. He became commanding officer
of the USS Whitney
In 1932. From 1935 to 1937, he served as Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
. He commanded the USS Arizona
from 1937 until his death in 1938. During his career, he earned three medals: the Mexican Service Medal
, the World War I Victory Medal, and the Order of Abdon Calderon.
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...
Captain who served as the 31st Naval Governor of Guam. He graduated from 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 1907, serving aboard a number of ships in many different capacities soon after. He returned to the Academy on staff before serving as the first commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the USS Tingey
USS Tingey (DD-272)
The second USS Tingey was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was named for Thomas Tingey.-History:...
. From 1924 to 1926, he served as Guamanian governor before attending the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
and serving on the staff of a number of high ranking naval officers. He then served as commanding officer of the USS Whitney
USS Whitney (AD-4)
USS Whitney was a Dobbin-class destroyer tender named for United States Secretary of the Navy William Collins Whitney. She was launched on 12 October 1923, and was commissioned on 2 September 1924. She was decommissioned on 22 October 1946, later being sold for scrap to the Dulien Ship Products...
and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
. Soon after assuming command of the USS Arizona
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona, a , was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state's recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of "super-dreadnought" battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside...
, Brown died of a heart attack.
Life
Brown was born on November 6, 1885 in Chelsea, MassachusettsChelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
. He married Marguerite Boynton Brown, and had three children by her: Alfred Winsor Brown, Jr., Barbara Jean Brown, and Mary Boynton Brown. He was considered very religious.
He died on September 7, 1938 in an apartment hotel
Apartment hotel
An Apartment Hotel is a serviced apartment complex that uses a hotel-style booking system. It is similar to renting an apartment, but with no fixed contracts and occupants can 'check-out' whenever they wish....
in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
of a heart attack. His funeral service took place aboard the USS Arizona
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona, a , was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state's recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of "super-dreadnought" battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside...
, and he was later interred at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
on September 14, 1938.
Naval career
Brown entered the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1903, graduating in 1907. In 1906, he began service aboard the USS Georgia
USS Georgia (BB-15)
USS Georgia was a United States Navy . She was the first ship to carry her name.Georgia was launched by the Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine on 11 October 1904, sponsored by Miss Stella Tate, sister of Georgia Congressman Farish Carter Tate and commissioned at Boston Navy Yard on 24 September 1906,...
, transferring to Asiatic Squadron
Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century, it was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded...
and the USS Rhode Island
USS Rhode Island (BB-17)
USS Rhode Island was a Virginia-class battleship of the United States Navy. She was the second ship to carry her name.Rhode Island was launched on 17 May 1904 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, sponsored by Mrs. F. O...
until 1912. In 1914, he transferred to the USS Vermont
USS Vermont (BB-20)
USS Vermont , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy named for the 14th state.Vermont was laid down on 21 May 1904 at Quincy, Massachusetts, by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company. She was launched on 31 August 1905 sponsored by Miss Jennie Bell, the daughter of Governor Charles J...
before becoming navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
aboard the USS Baltimore
USS Baltimore (C-3)
The fourth USS Baltimore was a United States Navy cruiser, the second protected cruiser to be built by an American yard. Like the previous one, , the design was commissioned from the British company of W...
. For 1916, he served as executive officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
aboard the USS Paducah.
In 1917, he returned to the Naval Academy as a staff member. In 1919, the USS Tingey
USS Tingey (DD-272)
The second USS Tingey was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was named for Thomas Tingey.-History:...
launched with Brown in command. He was stationed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility from 1923 until serving as governor at the Naval Base Guam. Beginning in 1925, he served as a member and recorder of 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 :...
. From 1930 to 1931, he attended the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, after which he served in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....
and the office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
. He became commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the USS Whitney
USS Whitney (AD-4)
USS Whitney was a Dobbin-class destroyer tender named for United States Secretary of the Navy William Collins Whitney. She was launched on 12 October 1923, and was commissioned on 2 September 1924. She was decommissioned on 22 October 1946, later being sold for scrap to the Dulien Ship Products...
In 1932. From 1935 to 1937, he served as Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
. He commanded the USS Arizona
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona, a , was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state's recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of "super-dreadnought" battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside...
from 1937 until his death in 1938. During his career, he earned three medals: the Mexican Service Medal
Mexican Service Medal
The Mexican Service Medal is an award of the United States military which was established by General Orders of the United States War Department on December 12, 1917...
, the World War I Victory Medal, and the Order of Abdon Calderon.