Edward D. Robie
Encyclopedia
Edward Dunham Robie was a naval engineer, inventor, and Union naval officer during the American Civil War
.
, where he was awarded a scholarship prize and a warrant as an assistant engineer in the United States Navy
in 1852.
He was Third Assistant Engineer on the frigate USS Mississippi
, flagship
of Commodore Matthew Perry
's historic expedition to Japan
from 1852 to 1855, which opened up that nation to the world for the first time.
In 1857, now Second Assistant Engineer, he was ordered to the frigate USS Susquehanna
, which was involved in the first, albeit unsuccessful, attempt to lay a transatlantic telegraph cable
across the Atlantic Ocean
, from Newfoundland to Ireland
. He was promoted to First Assistant Engineer in 1858, and was ordered to the USS Niagara
, which made a round-trip voyage late that year to Monrovia, Liberia, transporting slaves liberated in August when a slave ship was captured off Cuba
by another U.S. warship. Just prior to Robie's arrival on the ship, the Niagara had participated in the second attempt, this time successful, to lay the Transatlantic telegraph cable
.
His next assignment was as First Assistant Engineer aboard the steam sloop USS Lancaster
. Lancaster, flagship of the Pacific Squadron
, was cruising in the Marquesas Islands
(French Polynesia
) when the Civil War started, and did not find out about the outbreak of hostilities until it arrived in Hawaii, two months later.
signed Edward Robie's commission as Chief Engineer in September 1861, and Robie went to sea again, this time on the steam sloop USS Mohican
. The Mohican was involved in the capture of forts at Port Royal, South Carolina
and Fernandina, Florida, and on blockading duty off Charleston, South Carolina
. He subsequently served as Senior Engineer of the North Atlantic Squadron, superintended the construction of the iron-clad ram USS Dictator
in 1862-3, served on the steam ship Ericsson in 1864, and USS Dictator in 1864 and 1865. That year, he also served on the Engineer Board of Examiners.
, via the Strait of Magellan
. On arriving in Panama
, he was promoted to Fleet Engineer onboard the flagship USS Pensacola.
In 1869, he served on a commission headed by Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough
that condemned the design of USS Wampanoag
, contained numerous design features unprecedented in American naval construction.
Robie was stationed at the Boston Navy Yard in 1870 and 1871, then ordered to USS Wabash
, which sailed the Mediterranean Sea
. He improved a steam steering engine for that frigate, which was the first successful steam steerer used in the Navy. Robie later served for a time as Fleet Engineer on the North Atlantic and Gulf Squadrons, and from 1874 to 1877, was Chief Engineer of the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Later duties included special inspection duty at Pitsburg, Ohio
and the Cold Spring Foundry in New York, Fleet Engineer in the Pacific on the flagship USS Pensacola, Chief Engineer at Boston, then New York and finally Norfolk Navy yards.
His last tour of duty was with the Navy Department in Washington, D.C., where he remained until forced to retire due to his age, on September 11, 1893. He had served nearly 17 years at sea and more than 21½ years ashore.
Robie retired with the rank of commodore, but an act of Congress in 1906 promoted him to rear admiral
in appreciation for his services during the Civil War.
Rear Admiral Robie was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
on June 9, 1911.
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...
.
Early life and career
Robie was born in Burlington, Vermont, the son of Jacob and Louisa (Dunham) Robie. He was educated at the local academy in Binghamton, New YorkBinghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
, where he was awarded a scholarship prize and a warrant as an assistant engineer in the United States Navy
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...
in 1852.
He was Third Assistant Engineer on the frigate USS Mississippi
USS Mississippi (1841)
USS Mississippi, a paddle frigate, was the first ship of the United States Navy to bear that name. She was named for the Mississippi River. Her sister ship was . Her keel was laid down by the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1839; built under the personal supervision of Commodore Matthew Perry. She was...
, flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of Commodore Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry (naval officer)
Matthew Calbraith Perry was the Commodore of the U.S. Navy and served commanding a number of US naval ships. He served several wars, most notably in the Mexican-American War and the War of 1812. He played a leading role in the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854...
's historic expedition to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
from 1852 to 1855, which opened up that nation to the world for the first time.
In 1857, now Second Assistant Engineer, he was ordered to the frigate USS Susquehanna
USS Susquehanna (1847)
USS Susquehanna, a sidewheel steam frigate, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for a river which rises in Lake Otsego in central New York and flows across Pennsylvania and the northeast corner of Maryland to empty into the Chesapeake Bay.Her keel was laid down by the New York...
, which was involved in the first, albeit unsuccessful, attempt to lay a transatlantic telegraph cable
Transatlantic telegraph cable
The transatlantic telegraph cable was the first cable used for telegraph communications laid across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. It crossed from , Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island, in western Ireland to Heart's Content in eastern Newfoundland. The transatlantic cable connected North America...
across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, from Newfoundland to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was promoted to First Assistant Engineer in 1858, and was ordered to the USS Niagara
USS Niagara (1855)
The second USS Niagara was a steam frigate in the United States Navy.Niagara was launched by New York Navy Yard on 23 February 1855; sponsored by Miss Annie C. O'Donnell; and commissioned on 6 April 1857, Captain William L...
, which made a round-trip voyage late that year to Monrovia, Liberia, transporting slaves liberated in August when a slave ship was captured off 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...
by another U.S. warship. Just prior to Robie's arrival on the ship, the Niagara had participated in the second attempt, this time successful, to lay the Transatlantic telegraph cable
Transatlantic telegraph cable
The transatlantic telegraph cable was the first cable used for telegraph communications laid across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. It crossed from , Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island, in western Ireland to Heart's Content in eastern Newfoundland. The transatlantic cable connected North America...
.
His next assignment was as First Assistant Engineer aboard the steam sloop USS Lancaster
USS Lancaster (1858)
The first USS Lancaster was a screw sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War through the Spanish-American War....
. Lancaster, flagship of the Pacific Squadron
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
, was cruising in the Marquesas Islands
Marquesas Islands
The Marquesas Islands enana and Te Fenua `Enata , both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W...
(French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
) when the Civil War started, and did not find out about the outbreak of hostilities until it arrived in Hawaii, two months later.
Civil War
President Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
signed Edward Robie's commission as Chief Engineer in September 1861, and Robie went to sea again, this time on the steam sloop USS Mohican
USS Mohican (1859)
The first USS Mohican was a steam sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for the Mohican tribe....
. The Mohican was involved in the capture of forts at Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
and Fernandina, Florida, and on blockading duty off Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. He subsequently served as Senior Engineer of the North Atlantic Squadron, superintended the construction of the iron-clad ram USS Dictator
USS Dictator (1863)
USS Dictator was a single-turreted ironclad monitor. Originally to be named the , the Navy Department preferred a more aggressive name. On 1 April 1862, John Ericsson proposed to Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Gustavus Fox, Dictator "a name which I respectfully request for the new Ocean Monarch."...
in 1862-3, served on the steam ship Ericsson in 1864, and USS Dictator in 1864 and 1865. That year, he also served on the Engineer Board of Examiners.
Postwar career
In 1866, Robie sailed to the Pacific aboard USS OssipeeUSS Ossipee (1861)
|-External links:* Alaska's Digital Archives. Includes transfer ceremony of Alaska from Russia to the United States on October 18, 1867....
, via the Strait of Magellan
Strait of Magellan
The Strait of Magellan comprises a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland South America and north of Tierra del Fuego...
. On arriving in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, he was promoted to Fleet Engineer onboard the flagship USS Pensacola.
In 1869, he served on a commission headed by Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough
Louis M. Goldsborough
Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough was a rear admiral in the United States Navy during the Civil War. He held several sea commands during the Civil War, including the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron...
that condemned the design of USS Wampanoag
USS Wampanoag (1864)
The first USS Wampanoag was a screw frigate in the United States Navy built during the American Civil War.-Development and design:Commerce raiding by CSS Alabama and CSS Florida, both built in English yards, reached a point in 1863 where continued peaceful relations between the United States and...
, contained numerous design features unprecedented in American naval construction.
Robie was stationed at the Boston Navy Yard in 1870 and 1871, then ordered to USS Wabash
USS Wabash (1855)
USS Wabash was a steam screw frigate of the United States Navy that served during the American Civil War. She was based on the same plans as . Post-war she continued to serve her country in European operations and eventually served as a barracks ship in Boston, Massachusetts, and was sold in...
, which sailed the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. He improved a steam steering engine for that frigate, which was the first successful steam steerer used in the Navy. Robie later served for a time as Fleet Engineer on the North Atlantic and Gulf Squadrons, and from 1874 to 1877, was Chief Engineer of the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Later duties included special inspection duty at Pitsburg, Ohio
Pitsburg, Ohio
Pitsburg is a village in Darke County, Ohio, United States. The population was 392 at the 2000 census.-History:Pitsburg was founded under the name of "Arnettsville" in the 19th century, but it languished: an author writing in 1880 described it as "liv[ing] only in name in story." The community...
and the Cold Spring Foundry in New York, Fleet Engineer in the Pacific on the flagship USS Pensacola, Chief Engineer at Boston, then New York and finally Norfolk Navy yards.
His last tour of duty was with the Navy Department in Washington, D.C., where he remained until forced to retire due to his age, on September 11, 1893. He had served nearly 17 years at sea and more than 21½ years ashore.
Robie retired with the rank of commodore, but an act of Congress in 1906 promoted him to 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 :...
in appreciation for his services during the Civil War.
Rear Admiral Robie was buried 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 June 9, 1911.