Lewis B. Porterfield
Encyclopedia
Lewis Broughton Porterfield (30 October 1879 – 5 April 1942) was an rear admiral
of the United States Navy
.
, on 30 October 1879, was appointed Naval Cadet from Alabama on 8 September 1898. He became a Midshipman
in July 1902, Ensign on 2 May 1904, Lieutenant on 2 May 1907, Lieutenant Commander on 4 March 1915, Commander on 1 July 1919, Captain on 16 February 1925, and Rear Admiral on 1 July 1937.
His commands included the patrol boat
s and , the gunboat
, and Destroyer Squadron 11. He served finally as Chief of Staff in the 12th Naval District. He received the Distinguished Service Medal
for anti-submarine operations during World War I
while commanding Venetia.
He died in Oakland, California
, on 5 April 1942.
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 :...
of 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...
.
Biography
Porterfield, born in Greenville, AlabamaGreenville, Alabama
Greenville is a city in Butler County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census, the population was 7,228. The city is the county seat of Butler County and is known as the Camellia City. The movement to change the Official Alabama State Flower from the goldenrod to the camellia originated in...
, on 30 October 1879, was appointed Naval Cadet from Alabama on 8 September 1898. He became a 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...
in July 1902, Ensign on 2 May 1904, Lieutenant on 2 May 1907, Lieutenant Commander on 4 March 1915, Commander on 1 July 1919, Captain on 16 February 1925, and Rear Admiral on 1 July 1937.
His commands included the patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s and , 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 Destroyer Squadron 11. He served finally as Chief of Staff in the 12th Naval District. He received the Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
for anti-submarine operations 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...
while commanding Venetia.
He died in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, on 5 April 1942.