Charles E. Vreeland
Encyclopedia
Charles E. Vreeland was an officer of the United States Navy
who reached the rank of rear admiral
.
, Vreeland enlisted in the Navy as a naval apprentice early in 1866. After a brief service in the he was given a presidential appointment soon afterwards to enter the U.S. Naval Academy on July 27, 1866, graduating from that institution on June 7, 1870 as a passed midshipman
. He received his commission as an ensign
in November 1873 after a series of cruises onboard screw sloops.
after successive tours of duty on board the screw steamer
, the gunboat
and the sloop-of-war
. He was then assigned to the Nautical Almanac Office
of the US Naval Observatory in November 1881 after a brief period ashore awaiting orders. In March 1884, Lt. Vreeland began a three-year tour at sea aboard the sloop-of-war , after which he was assigned for two years at the Bureau of Navigation
. He was then assigned briefly (from July to September 1889) with the Office of Naval Intelligence
and reported to the Coast Survey late in October, a posting he took until the spring of 1893, when Vreeland was assigned a series of tours as naval attaché — first in Rome, Vienna and finally in Berlin.
After returning home in late 1896, Lt. Vreeland was posted to the battleship
in mid-January 1897, and served aboard her until he was transferred to the gunboat
at the end of June, whereupon he served through most of the Spanish–American War on blockade duty off the port of Manzanillo
until the end of July 1898, even though he was named executive officer
of the cruiser
in April of that year. He did not actually assume those duties until August 24. He was detached from the Dolphin to serve aboard the on November 6 that same year, but was ordered to the instead on December 30 due to change in orders. Vreeland was promoted to lieutenant commander
, and served aboard various vessels in the Asiatic Squadron
. He returned home on board the hospital ship
in March 1900. From April 1900 to before August 1902 he was a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey
, during which time he was promoted to full commander
in mid-August 1901. After his duty in the Board, he supervised the fitting out of the new monitor (later renamed the Ozark) and assumed command upon her commissioning on October 28 of that year.
Two years later, Vreeland relinquished command of the Ozark and served on shore a series of special assignments for the Department of the Navy for the next few years, during which he received his promotion to captain on April 13, 1906. After finishing his on-shore assignments in Washington, D.C.
on April 17, 1907, Capt. Vreeland went to New York Ship in Camden, New Jersey
the next day to commission the new . He commanded the battleship for the next two years, which was an auspicious time, for the Kansas was picked to be part of the "Great White Fleet
" that sailed around the world. Soon after the Fleet returned to Hampton Roads
on February 22, 1909 he gave up his command of the Kansas and returned home to await orders. On May 10, he succeeded Captain Raymond P. Rodgers
as Chief Intelligence Officer, the head of the Office of Naval Intelligence
until December 8, when he was succeeded by Captain Templin M. Potts.
As his promotion to rear admiral was becoming imminent, he broke his flag in the as Commander, 4th Division, Atlantic Fleet. On December 27, he became Rear Admiral Charles Vreeland.
On April 19, 1911 he reported ashore for further duty in Washington. In the newly devised aide system for managing the Navy, Vreeland became one of the four principal advisors of the Secretary of the Navy, George von Lengerke Meyer
. As Aide for Inspections, he reached the pinnacle of naval command. During his tenure, he represented the Navy at the coronation of George V of the United Kingdom
, as well as heading the so-called "Vreeland Board" which reinvestigated the sinking of the in 1898, the controversial report of which — now widely regarded as erroneous — concluded that an external explosion sank the Maine.
On December 12, Rear Admiral Vreeland ended his tour of duty as Aide for Inspections and succeeded Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright as the second Aide for Operations. While in that position, Vreeland struggled to improve the defenses in the Philippine Islands
, agitated for increased naval construction, particularly of battle cruisers, and supported the development of U.S. naval aviation
. It was also during his tenure that naval aviation found a permanent home in Pensacola, Florida
. On February 11, 1903 he was succeeded by Bradley A. Fiske
as Aide for Operations, and Vreeland finished out his naval career as member of both the General and Joint Boards. He retired on March 10, 1914.
Rear Admiral Charles E. Vreeland died in Atlantic City, New Jersey
after a brief retirement marked by illness.
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 reached the rank of rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
.
Early life
Born in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Vreeland enlisted in the Navy as a naval apprentice early in 1866. After a brief service in the he was given a presidential appointment soon afterwards to enter the U.S. Naval Academy on July 27, 1866, graduating from that institution on June 7, 1870 as a passed 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...
. He received his commission as an 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....
in November 1873 after a series of cruises onboard screw sloops.
Naval career
Vreeland was further promoted to master and then lieutenantLieutenant
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...
after successive tours of duty on board the screw steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, the gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
and the sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
. He was then assigned to the Nautical Almanac Office
Nautical Almanac Office
Nautical Almanac Office can refer to:* HM Nautical Almanac Office in the United Kingdom* The Nautical Almanac Office at the United States Naval Observatory...
of the US Naval Observatory in November 1881 after a brief period ashore awaiting orders. In March 1884, Lt. Vreeland began a three-year tour at sea aboard the sloop-of-war , after which he was assigned for two years at the Bureau of Navigation
Bureau of Navigation (United States Navy)
The U.S. Navy's Bureau of Navigation was established in 1862 as part of the reorganization of the Navy Department. Principal responsibilities were to provide nautical charts and instruments and to oversee several activities involved navigation research, including the Naval Observatory...
. He was then assigned briefly (from July to September 1889) with the Office of Naval Intelligence
Office of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...
and reported to the Coast Survey late in October, a posting he took until the spring of 1893, when Vreeland was assigned a series of tours as naval attaché — first in Rome, Vienna and finally in Berlin.
After returning home in late 1896, Lt. Vreeland was posted to the 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...
in mid-January 1897, and served aboard her until he was transferred to the gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
at the end of June, whereupon he served through most of the Spanish–American War on blockade duty off the port of Manzanillo
Manzanillo, Cuba
Manzanillo is a municipality and city in the Granma Province of Cuba.It is a port city in the Granma Province in eastern Cuba on the Gulf of Guacanayabo, near the delta of the Cauto River...
until the end of July 1898, even though he was named 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:...
of the cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
in April of that year. He did not actually assume those duties until August 24. He was detached from the Dolphin to serve aboard the on November 6 that same year, but was ordered to the instead on December 30 due to change in orders. Vreeland was promoted to lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
, and served aboard various vessels in 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...
. He returned home on board the hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
in March 1900. From April 1900 to before August 1902 he was a member 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 :...
, during which time he was promoted to full commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
in mid-August 1901. After his duty in the Board, he supervised the fitting out of the new monitor (later renamed the Ozark) and assumed command upon her commissioning on October 28 of that year.
Two years later, Vreeland relinquished command of the Ozark and served on shore a series of special assignments for the Department of the Navy for the next few years, during which he received his promotion to captain on April 13, 1906. After finishing his on-shore assignments 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....
on April 17, 1907, Capt. Vreeland went to New York Ship in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
the next day to commission the new . He commanded the battleship for the next two years, which was an auspicious time, for the Kansas was picked to be part 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...
" that sailed around the world. Soon after the Fleet returned to Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
on February 22, 1909 he gave up his command of the Kansas and returned home to await orders. On May 10, he succeeded Captain Raymond P. Rodgers
Raymond P. Rodgers
Rear Admiral Raymond Perry Rodgers was an officer in the United States Navy. He succeeded Lt. Theodorus B.M. Mason as the second head of the Office of Naval Intelligence....
as Chief Intelligence Officer, the head of the Office of Naval Intelligence
Office of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...
until December 8, when he was succeeded by Captain Templin M. Potts.
As his promotion to rear admiral was becoming imminent, he broke his flag in the as Commander, 4th Division, Atlantic Fleet. On December 27, he became Rear Admiral Charles Vreeland.
On April 19, 1911 he reported ashore for further duty in Washington. In the newly devised aide system for managing the Navy, Vreeland became one of the four principal advisors of the Secretary of the Navy, George von Lengerke Meyer
George von Lengerke Meyer
George von Lengerke Meyer was a Massachusetts businessman and politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, as United States ambassador to Italy and Russia, as United States Postmaster General from 1907 to 1909 during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt and...
. As Aide for Inspections, he reached the pinnacle of naval command. During his tenure, he represented the Navy at the coronation of George V of the United Kingdom
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, as well as heading the so-called "Vreeland Board" which reinvestigated the sinking of the in 1898, the controversial report of which — now widely regarded as erroneous — concluded that an external explosion sank the Maine.
On December 12, Rear Admiral Vreeland ended his tour of duty as Aide for Inspections and succeeded Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright as the second Aide for Operations. While in that position, Vreeland struggled to improve the defenses in the Philippine Islands
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, agitated for increased naval construction, particularly of battle cruisers, and supported the development of U.S. naval aviation
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
. It was also during his tenure that naval aviation found a permanent home in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
. On February 11, 1903 he was succeeded by Bradley A. Fiske
Bradley Fiske
Rear Admiral Bradley Allen Fiske was an officer in the United States Navy who was noted as a technical innovator. During his long career, Fiske invented more than a hundred and thirty electrical and mechanical devices, with both Naval and civilian uses, and wrote extensively on technical and...
as Aide for Operations, and Vreeland finished out his naval career as member of both the General and Joint Boards. He retired on March 10, 1914.
Rear Admiral Charles E. Vreeland died in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
after a brief retirement marked by illness.