Hugo Osterhaus
Encyclopedia
Hugo Osterhaus was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy
. He was the son of Civil War
Major General Peter J. Osterhaus
(1823–1917) and father of Navy Admiral Hugo Wilson Osterhaus (1878–1972), and is buried on Arlington National Cemetery
.
on 22 September 1865 and received his commission as an Ensign on 13 July 1871. He was commissioned Master, 12 February 1874; Lieutenant 13 March 1880; Lieutenant Commander 3 March 1899; Commander 2 July 1901 ; Captain 19 February 1906; Rear Admiral
4 December 1909 and was placed on the retired list 15 June 1913.
He was captain of the battleship as part of the Great White Fleet
which was a United States Navy force that completed a circumnavigation
of the world from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909 by order of U.S. President
Theodore Roosevelt
. Roosevelt sought to demonstrate growing American military power and blue-water navy
capability.
Osterhaus was recalled to active duty during World War I
serving from 11 April 1917 until 1 November 1920 when he was relieved of active duty and returned home.
His flag commands included the Second Division, Atlantic Fleet
; the Mare Island Navy Yard; the 12th Naval District; and the Atlantic Fleet.
for services in the Office of Naval Districts.
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...
. He was the son of 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...
Major General Peter J. Osterhaus
Peter J. Osterhaus
Peter Joseph Osterhaus was Union Army General in the American Civil War and later served as a diplomat.-Early life:Osterhaus was born in Koblenz, Rhenish Prussia. He attended the Berlin Military Academy and after serving for some time as a Prussian Army officer, he emigrated to the United States...
(1823–1917) and father of Navy Admiral Hugo Wilson Osterhaus (1878–1972), and is buried on 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...
.
U.S. Navy Career
Osterhaus was appointed MidshipmanMidshipman
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 22 September 1865 and received his commission as an Ensign on 13 July 1871. He was commissioned Master, 12 February 1874; Lieutenant 13 March 1880; Lieutenant Commander 3 March 1899; Commander 2 July 1901 ; Captain 19 February 1906; 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 :...
4 December 1909 and was placed on the retired list 15 June 1913.
He was captain of the battleship as 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...
which was a United States Navy force that completed a circumnavigation
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
of the world from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909 by order of U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. Roosevelt sought to demonstrate growing American military power and blue-water navy
Blue-water navy
The term blue-water navy is a colloquialism used to describe a maritime force capable of operating across the deep waters of open oceans. While what actually constitutes such a force remains undefined, there is a requirement for the ability to exercise sea control at wide ranges...
capability.
Osterhaus was recalled to active duty during 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...
serving from 11 April 1917 until 1 November 1920 when he was relieved of active duty and returned home.
His flag commands included the Second Division, Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
; the Mare Island Navy Yard; the 12th Naval District; and the Atlantic Fleet.
Awarded the Navy Cross
During World War I he received the Navy CrossNavy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for services in the Office of Naval Districts.