John Kennedy Barton
Encyclopedia
John Kennedy Barton was a Rear Admiral
in the United States Navy
in the late 19th century.
in 1873. He alternated tours of duty afloat and ashore through the 1880s, serving in such ships as , , , , before teaching steam engineering at the Naval Academy from 1882 to 1886. Barton then served three years on the Asiatic Station
, on and , before returning to the Naval Academy for another tour of duty as instructor (1889–1893).
After supervising the fitting out of the gunboat and cruiser , Barton became a chief engineer on January 15, 1895. He served in the Pacific Fleet on and until detached to shore duty in 1897. Barton returned to the Asiatic Station in 1900 and served on the cruiser and the battleship before becoming fleet engineer in 1903. Relieved shortly afterward, he again taught at the Naval Academy until 1905 and then did graduate work in engineering.
In 1907 Barton became head of the department of steam engineering at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. On December 21, 1908, he assumed the title of Engineer-in-Chief as Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering
with the rank of Rear Admiral. Only two days later, Barton was detached to return home due to illness and was simultaneously transferred to the Navy's retired list. He subsequently held a post on a Naval Examining Board in January 1909 and also served in the Civil Service Commission. He died at the Naval Hospital at League Island
, Philadelphia, on December 23, 1921.
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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 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 the late 19th century.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, Barton graduated from the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1873. He alternated tours of duty afloat and ashore through the 1880s, serving in such ships as , , , , before teaching steam engineering at the Naval Academy from 1882 to 1886. Barton then served three years on the Asiatic Station
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...
, on and , before returning to the Naval Academy for another tour of duty as instructor (1889–1893).
After supervising the fitting out of the gunboat and cruiser , Barton became a chief engineer on January 15, 1895. He served in the Pacific Fleet on and until detached to shore duty in 1897. Barton returned to the Asiatic Station in 1900 and served on the cruiser and the battleship before becoming fleet engineer in 1903. Relieved shortly afterward, he again taught at the Naval Academy until 1905 and then did graduate work in engineering.
In 1907 Barton became head of the department of steam engineering at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. On December 21, 1908, he assumed the title of Engineer-in-Chief as Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering
Bureau of Steam Engineering
Bureau of Steam Engineering was set up by act of 5 July 1862, receiving some of the duties of the former Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repair. It became, by the Naval Appropriation Act of 4 June 1920, the Bureau of Engineering...
with the rank of Rear Admiral. Only two days later, Barton was detached to return home due to illness and was simultaneously transferred to the Navy's retired list. He subsequently held a post on a Naval Examining Board in January 1909 and also served in the Civil Service Commission. He died at the Naval Hospital at League Island
League Island
League Island was an island in the Delaware River, part of the city of Philadelphia, just upstream from the mouth of the Schuylkill River, which was the site of the Philadelphia shipyard, which eventually became the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, now known as the Philadelphia Naval Business...
, Philadelphia, on December 23, 1921.