Charles F. Shoemaker
Encyclopedia
Charles Frederick Shoemaker (March 27, 1841 - July 11, 1913) was a captain in the United States Revenue Cutter Service
and was appointed in 1895 by Secretary of the Treasury John G. Carlisle
to be Chief of the Revenue Marine Division of the Department of the Treasury
. Although he was never formally known as Commandant, he is recognized today as the second Commandant of the Coast Guard
.
in the Revenue Cutter Service in November 1860. His first assignment was aboard the USRC Lewis Cass stationed at Mobile, Alabama
. In the days leading up to the American Civil War
his commanding officer
turned the cutter over to Alabama state authorities and left Shoemaker to lead his officers and men back to Union territory. He served on several revenue cutters until April 1864 when he resigned his commission. He was reappointed a lieutenant
in June 1868 and served at various stations until 1875 when he was assigned the duties of assistant inspector of the New York City office. In 1876 he was appointed assistant inspector of the Third Life Saving District of the US Life-Saving Service. In 1880, Shoemaker was assigned to investigate the sinking of the British barque
M & S Henderson near the Pea Island Life-Saving Station
. After taking statements from the station crew and survivors of the shipwreck, Shoemaker concluded that the surfman on watch had been negligent as a lookout and that the station's keeper had lied under oath. Both were dismissed and Shoemaker appointed Richard Etheridge, a black surfman as the new keeper. Etheridge was permitted to have an all black crew on the recommendation of Shoemaker; a situation that lasted until 1947 when the staion was disestablished. After several transfers he returned to the USRCS to become executive officer
the USRC Seward
in 1882. In 1885 he returned to the USLSS as chief inspector and served in that position until 1891 when he was assigned as commanding officer of the USRC Washington. In 1893 he assumed command of the USRC Hudson.
as Chief of the Revenue Cutter Division. During his service as chief of the division, he pushed for improvements in the officer retirement system and better equipment. He oversaw the acquisition of new steel hulled cutters and increased the number of cutters in service. Upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 64, Shoemaker was placed the Retired List on March 27, 1905. He was succeeded by Captain Worth G. Ross
on July 11, 1913.
United States Revenue Cutter Service
The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed maritime law enforcement service. Throughout its entire existence the Revenue Cutter Service operated under the authority of the United States Department of the Treasury...
and was appointed in 1895 by Secretary of the Treasury John G. Carlisle
John Griffin Carlisle
John Griffin Carlisle was a prominent American politician in the Democratic Party during the last quarter of the 19th century. He served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1883 to 1889 and as United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1893 to 1897 during the Panic...
to be Chief of the Revenue Marine Division of the Department of the Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
. Although he was never formally known as Commandant, he is recognized today as the second Commandant of the Coast Guard
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
.
Early career
Shoemaker was born in Glendale, Iowa on March 27, 1841 to William Rawle Shoemaker and Julia Hepburn. He received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1858, but resigned his position to accept a commission as a third lieutenantEnsign (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 the Revenue Cutter Service in November 1860. His first assignment was aboard the USRC Lewis Cass stationed at Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. In the days leading up to the American 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...
his 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...
turned the cutter over to Alabama state authorities and left Shoemaker to lead his officers and men back to Union territory. He served on several revenue cutters until April 1864 when he resigned his commission. He was reappointed a 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...
in June 1868 and served at various stations until 1875 when he was assigned the duties of assistant inspector of the New York City office. In 1876 he was appointed assistant inspector of the Third Life Saving District of the US Life-Saving Service. In 1880, Shoemaker was assigned to investigate the sinking of the British barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
M & S Henderson near the Pea Island Life-Saving Station
Pea Island Life-Saving Station
Pea Island Life-Saving Station was a life-saving station on Pea Island, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was the first life-saving station in the country to have an all-black crew, and it was the first in the nation to have a black man, Richard Etheridge, as commanding officer.-Richard...
. After taking statements from the station crew and survivors of the shipwreck, Shoemaker concluded that the surfman on watch had been negligent as a lookout and that the station's keeper had lied under oath. Both were dismissed and Shoemaker appointed Richard Etheridge, a black surfman as the new keeper. Etheridge was permitted to have an all black crew on the recommendation of Shoemaker; a situation that lasted until 1947 when the staion was disestablished. After several transfers he returned to the USRCS to become 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:...
the USRC Seward
USRC William H. Seward (1864)
USRC William H. Seward was a Revenue Cutter Service schooner purchased in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in April 1864 and assigned in July 1864 to Wilmington, North Carolina. In 1874 she was moved to Key West, Florida and a year later to Galveston, Texas. In April 1880 Seward was assigned to Bay St....
in 1882. In 1885 he returned to the USLSS as chief inspector and served in that position until 1891 when he was assigned as commanding officer of the USRC Washington. In 1893 he assumed command of the USRC Hudson.
Chief of Revenue Cutter Service
On March 19, 1895, Secretary of the Treasury John Griffin Carlisle appointed Shoemaker to replace Leonard G. ShepardLeonard G. Shepard
Leonard G. Shepard , was a captain in the United States Revenue Cutter Service and was appointed in 1889 by Secretary of the Treasury William Windom as the first military head of the service since 1869. His formal title was that of Chief of the Revenue Marine Division of the Department of the...
as Chief of the Revenue Cutter Division. During his service as chief of the division, he pushed for improvements in the officer retirement system and better equipment. He oversaw the acquisition of new steel hulled cutters and increased the number of cutters in service. Upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 64, Shoemaker was placed the Retired List on March 27, 1905. He was succeeded by Captain Worth G. Ross
Worth G. Ross
Worth G. Ross was the first graduate of the School of Instruction of the Revenue Cutter Service, now known as the US Coast Guard Academy...
Retirement and death
On May 8, 1908, Shoemaker was promoted to the rank of Captain-Commandant on the Retired List by Act of Congress. He died at his home in Woodstock, VirginiaWoodstock, Virginia
Woodstock is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. It has a population of 5,097 according to the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Shenandoah County....
on July 11, 1913.
External links
- Historian's Office U.S. Coast Guard Official website