Benjamin P. Lamberton
Encyclopedia
Benjamin P. Lamberton was a rear admiral in the United States Navy
, who served in the Spanish-American War
.
. He attended Carlisle High School and the Dickinson Preparatory School before spending three years as a member of the Dickinson College
class of 1862. He was a Member of Belles Lettres Literary Society.
Having decided on a naval career Lamberton transferred to the Naval Academy
, and was appointed midshipman
on September 21, 1861. He graduated on November 22, 1864 in time to see active service on the America
as it pursued the Confederate raiders and in 1864.
In 1865 he was attached to the steam sloop
of the Brazil Squadron
, then in the steam-sloop in 1866-67, receiving promotion to ensign
on November 1, 1866, and to master on December 1, 1866.
Lamberton served aboard the training ship in 1867-69, being commissioned as lieutenant
on March 12, 1867. He served with the rank of lieutenant commander from December 18, 1868, to June 2, 1885, when he was promoted to commander and assigned to the Lighthouse Board
in Charleston as an inspector.
In 1898 Lamberton was ordered to command of the protected cruiser
on the Asiatic Squadron
, but upon arrival in Hong Kong
was appointed chief of staff on board Admiral George Dewey
's flagship .
He saw action the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. An incident during the heat of the battle demonstrated the ardor of Olympia's crew. On learning of Dewey’s decision to give the crew a break for breakfast, a gun captain commented to Captain Lamberton, "For God’s sake, Captain, don’t let us stop now. To hell with breakfast!"
Lamberton was promoted to captain
on May 17, 1898, and took command of the Olympia.
Promoted to rear admiral on September 11, 1903, he commanded the South Atlantic Squadron. His final post was as chairman of the Lighthouse Board from which he retired on his sixty-second birthday in 1906.
Lamberton died on June 9, 1912, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
during his retirement, enjoying duck hunting and fishing with his friend President Grover Cleveland
.
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...
, who served in 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...
.
Biography
Benjamin Peffer Lamberton was born in Cumberland County, PennsylvaniaCumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
. He attended Carlisle High School and the Dickinson Preparatory School before spending three years as a member of the Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
class of 1862. He was a Member of Belles Lettres Literary Society.
Having decided on a naval career Lamberton transferred to the 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...
, and was appointed midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on September 21, 1861. He graduated on November 22, 1864 in time to see active service on the America
America (yacht)
The America was a 19th century racing yacht that was the first to win the eponymous international sailing trophy now known as the America's Cup; in 1851 the trophy was known as the Royal Yacht Squadron's "One Hundred Guinea Cup", but was later renamed after the original winning yacht...
as it pursued the Confederate raiders and in 1864.
In 1865 he was attached to the steam sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
of the Brazil Squadron
Brazil Squadron
The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina...
, then in the steam-sloop in 1866-67, receiving promotion to 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....
on November 1, 1866, and to master on December 1, 1866.
Lamberton served aboard the training ship in 1867-69, being commissioned as lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on March 12, 1867. He served with the rank of lieutenant commander from December 18, 1868, to June 2, 1885, when he was promoted to commander and assigned to the Lighthouse Board
United States Lighthouse Board
The United States Lighthouse Board was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States...
in Charleston as an inspector.
In 1898 Lamberton was ordered to command of 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...
on the 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...
, but upon arrival in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
was appointed chief of staff on board Admiral George Dewey
George Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
's flagship .
He saw action the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. An incident during the heat of the battle demonstrated the ardor of Olympia's crew. On learning of Dewey’s decision to give the crew a break for breakfast, a gun captain commented to Captain Lamberton, "For God’s sake, Captain, don’t let us stop now. To hell with breakfast!"
Lamberton was promoted to captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
on May 17, 1898, and took command of the Olympia.
Promoted to rear admiral on September 11, 1903, he commanded the South Atlantic Squadron. His final post was as chairman of the Lighthouse Board from which he retired on his sixty-second birthday in 1906.
Lamberton died on June 9, 1912, and is buried in 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...
.
Personal life
Benjamin Peffer Lamberton married Elizabeth Stedman on February 1873 in Boston, Massachusetts, and had three children. He lived 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....
during his retirement, enjoying duck hunting and fishing with his friend President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
.