Cameron Winslow
Encyclopedia
Admiral Cameron McRae Winslow (29 July 1854 – 2 January 1932) served in the United States Navy
during the Spanish-American War
and World War I
. A son of Commander Francis Winslow (I) (1818–1862), he was a first cousin once removed of Rear Admiral John A. Winslow, who served in the Civil War
(Cameron's father, who also fought in the Civil War, and died of Yellow Fever in 1862 while in command of the USS R. R. Cuyler (1860)
, was a first cousin of John A. Winslow.)
. His older brother was Lt. Francis Winslow (II) USN; his younger brother, Arthur Winslow, was the grandfather of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Lowell
. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1874, after which followed years of extensive sea duty. He was married to Theodora Havemeyer (c.1877-1945), one of the many children of sugar baron Theodore A. Havemeyer and Emilie De Loosey Havemeyer. They had a son, Lieutenant Cameron McRae Winslow Jr.
During the 1898 war with Spain, then-Lieutenant Winslow served on board Nashville
. He was commended for extraordinary heroism when, on 11 May 1898, he commanded a boat expedition from Nashville and Marblehead
which succeeded in cutting two submarine cables off Cienfuegos, Cuba, which linked Cuba
with Europe
. Despite withering enemy fire from point-blank range, which resulted in a bullet wound to his hand, Winslow retained command throughout the engagement.
Winslow commanded Charleston
from 1905 to 1907 and battleship
New Hampshire
from 1908 to 1909. Winslow did not sail on the around-the-world cruise of the Great White Fleet
. When the fleet returned to the US in 1909, Winslow and the New Hampshire
joined the fleet for its formal military review before President Roosevelt. Promoted to rear admiral on 14 September 1911, Winslow was Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, from 13 September 1915 until 29 July 1916 when he was retired due to the statutory age limit (while in command of the Pacific Fleet, he held four-star Admiral rank pursuant to a 1915 law that designated holders of certain commands to temporary 4-star rank; see List of United States Navy four-star admirals). Recalled to active duty in World War I, he served as Inspector of Naval Districts on the Atlantic coast until again retiring on 11 November 1919.
in the State of New Hampshire, representing his direct ancestor Major General John Stark
. The Admiral's younger brother, Arthur Winslow, also joined the Society, representing the General's oldest son, Major Caleb Stark
. Rear Admiral Winslow died in Boston, Massachusetts.
The first two ships named USS Winslow
honored his cousin, Rear Admiral John Ancrum Winslow, and Winslow (DD-359)
honored Rear Admiral Cameron McRae Winslow as well.
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...
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 World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. A son of Commander Francis Winslow (I) (1818–1862), he was a first cousin once removed of Rear Admiral John A. Winslow, who served in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
(Cameron's father, who also fought in the Civil War, and died of Yellow Fever in 1862 while in command of the USS R. R. Cuyler (1860)
USS R. R. Cuyler (1860)
USS R. R. Cuyler was a steamer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was outfitted by the Union Navy as a gunboat and was assigned to the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America....
, was a first cousin of John A. Winslow.)
Biography
Cameron McRae Winslow was born 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....
. His older brother was Lt. Francis Winslow (II) USN; his younger brother, Arthur Winslow, was the grandfather of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Lowell
Robert Lowell
Robert Traill Spence Lowell IV was an American poet, considered the founder of the confessional poetry movement. He was appointed the sixth Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress where he served from 1947 until 1948...
. 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 1874, after which followed years of extensive sea duty. He was married to Theodora Havemeyer (c.1877-1945), one of the many children of sugar baron Theodore A. Havemeyer and Emilie De Loosey Havemeyer. They had a son, Lieutenant Cameron McRae Winslow Jr.
During the 1898 war with Spain, then-Lieutenant Winslow served on board Nashville
USS Nashville (PG-7)
USS Nashville , a gunboat, was the only ship of its class. It was the third ship of the United States Navy to hold the name Nashville....
. He was commended for extraordinary heroism when, on 11 May 1898, he commanded a boat expedition from Nashville and Marblehead
USS Marblehead (C-11)
The second USS Marblehead was an unarmored cruiser in the United States Navy which served in the Spanish-American War and World War I....
which succeeded in cutting two submarine cables off Cienfuegos, Cuba, which linked 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...
with Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Despite withering enemy fire from point-blank range, which resulted in a bullet wound to his hand, Winslow retained command throughout the engagement.
Winslow commanded Charleston
USS Charleston (C-22)
The third USS Charleston was a United States Navy St. Louis-class protected cruiser. She was launched 23 January 1904 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia, sponsored by Miss H. Rhett, and commissioned 17 October 1905, Captain Cameron McRae Winslow in command...
from 1905 to 1907 and battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
New Hampshire
USS New Hampshire (BB-25)
The second United States Navy New Hampshire was a . New Hampshire was the last American pre-dreadnought battleship, though she was commissioned two years after HMS Dreadnought....
from 1908 to 1909. Winslow did not sail on the around-the-world cruise 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...
. When the fleet returned to the US in 1909, Winslow and the New Hampshire
USS New Hampshire (BB-25)
The second United States Navy New Hampshire was a . New Hampshire was the last American pre-dreadnought battleship, though she was commissioned two years after HMS Dreadnought....
joined the fleet for its formal military review before President Roosevelt. Promoted to rear admiral on 14 September 1911, Winslow was Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, from 13 September 1915 until 29 July 1916 when he was retired due to the statutory age limit (while in command of the Pacific Fleet, he held four-star Admiral rank pursuant to a 1915 law that designated holders of certain commands to temporary 4-star rank; see List of United States Navy four-star admirals). Recalled to active duty in World War I, he served as Inspector of Naval Districts on the Atlantic coast until again retiring on 11 November 1919.
Post-Naval Career
Following the 1908 death of his oldest brother, Lt. Francis Winslow (II) USN, Rear Admiral Winslow became a member of the Society of the CincinnatiSociety of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
in the State of New Hampshire, representing his direct ancestor Major General John Stark
John Stark
John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...
. The Admiral's younger brother, Arthur Winslow, also joined the Society, representing the General's oldest son, Major Caleb Stark
Caleb Stark
Caleb Stark was the eldest son of General John Stark and his wife Molly Stark.-Biography:He was born December 3, 1759, at Dunbarton, New Hampshire. During the American Revolutionary War Caleb served with his father in the 1st New Hampshire Regiment at the Battle of Bunker Hill, Trenton and...
. Rear Admiral Winslow died in Boston, Massachusetts.
The first two ships named USS Winslow
USS Winslow
USS Winslow may refer to one of several United States Navy ships:Named in honor of Rear Admiral John Ancrum Winslow:, a torpedo boat during the Spanish-American War, an O'Brien class destroyer, commissioned in 1915, served during World War I and decommissioned in 1922Named in honor of John Ancrum...
honored his cousin, Rear Admiral John Ancrum Winslow, and Winslow (DD-359)
USS Winslow (DD-359)
The third USS Winslow was a in the United States Navy. She was named for Rear Admiral John Ancrum Winslow and Cameron McRae Winslow....
honored Rear Admiral Cameron McRae Winslow as well.