Louis A. Kaiser
Encyclopedia
Louis A. Kaiser was a Captain in the United States Navy
, as well as briefly acting-Governor of Guam. He was a pioneer in the Navy on the use of wireless telegraphy
, prior to World War I
.
. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1889 and was commissioned an Ensign
in 1891. His first assignment was the USS Chicago
. In 1894, he was transferred to the USS Detroit
, and again onto the USS Michigan
, two years later. In 1896, he was also reassigned to the USS Concord.
In the Spanish-American War
, he continued to serve on the Concord, and he fought in the Battle of Manila Bay. In December 1898, he was promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade
. In 1899, he was briefly made acting-Governor of Guam, in preparation for the arrival of Governor Richard Phillips Leary. In 1900, he was transferred to the USS Solace
, then again to a post in Newport, Virginia
.
. In July 1905, he was promoted to a full lieutenant commander
and invited to speak on these innovations to the Washington Society of Engineers in Washington, DC. In 1910, he was transferred to the Bureau of Steam Engineering
.
In 1912, he was given his first command, the cruiser USS Montgomery
. The following year, he was given command of the USS Tennessee
before being promoted to a full commander
. He served in the Boston Naval Yard and Naval War College
in Newport
, Rhode Island in 1915, before returning to the command of the battleship USS New Jersey
and receiving a promotion to captain.
office in Galveston, Texas
. In 1923, he was briefly the acting-commandant
of the 8th Naval District before being assigned to the New York hydrographic office. He retired April 1, 1925.
He died in 1939 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
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...
, as well as briefly acting-Governor of Guam. He was a pioneer in the Navy on the use of wireless telegraphy
Wireless telegraphy
Wireless telegraphy is a historical term used today to apply to early radio telegraph communications techniques and practices, particularly those used during the first three decades of radio before the term radio came into use....
, prior to 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...
.
Early career
Kaiser was born in Kirkwood, IllinoisKirkwood, Illinois
Kirkwood is a village in Warren County, Illinois, United States. The population was 794 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1889 and was commissioned an Ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
in 1891. His first assignment was the USS Chicago
USS Chicago (1885)
The first USS Chicago was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy, the largest of the original three authorized by Congress for the "New Navy"....
. In 1894, he was transferred to the USS Detroit
USS Detroit (C-10)
The USS Detroit was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy which was launched 28 October 1891 by Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore, Maryland, sponsored by Miss F. Malster and commissioned 20 July 1893 with Commander Willard Herbert Brownson in command...
, and again onto the USS Michigan
USS Michigan (BB-27)
USS Michigan , a South Carolina-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 26th state. She was the first battleship in the world to be commissioned with superimposed, or Superfire type turrets....
, two years later. In 1896, he was also reassigned to the USS Concord.
In the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, he continued to serve on the Concord, and he fought in the Battle of Manila Bay. In December 1898, he was promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
. In 1899, he was briefly made acting-Governor of Guam, in preparation for the arrival of Governor Richard Phillips Leary. In 1900, he was transferred to the USS Solace
USS Solace
Two ships of the United States Navy have been named Solace: was a hospital ship in service during the Spanish American War and World War I was a hospital ship in service during World War II...
, then again to a post in Newport, Virginia
Newport, Virginia
Newport is an unincorporated community in Giles County, Virginia, United States, with the ZIP code of 24128.-External links:*...
.
Bureau of Equipment
In 1904, he was transferred again to the Bureau of Equipment. In this role, Kaiser was a pioneer in early wireless transmissions and conducted many of the early tests of wireless telegraphy. In 1905, he demonstrated a 1100+ mile range while testing it aboard the USS BrooklynUSS Brooklyn (CA-3)
The second USS Brooklyn was a United States Navy armored cruiser.She was launched on 2 October 1895 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; sponsored by Miss Ida May Schieren; and commissioned on 1 December 1896, Captain Francis Augustus Cook in...
. In July 1905, he was promoted to a full lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
and invited to speak on these innovations to the Washington Society of Engineers in Washington, DC. In 1910, he was transferred to 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...
.
In 1912, he was given his first command, the cruiser USS Montgomery
USS Montgomery (C-9)
The fourth USS Montgomery was a protected cruiser in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War. She was named for Montgomery, Alabama....
. The following year, he was given command of the USS Tennessee
USS Tennessee (ACR-10)
The second USS Tennessee , also referred to "Armored Cruiser No. 10", and later renamed Memphis and renumbered CA-10, was a United States Navy armored cruiser, the lead ship of her class....
before being promoted to a full commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
. He served in the Boston Naval Yard and Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
in Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Rhode Island in 1915, before returning to the command of the battleship USS New Jersey
USS New Jersey (BB-16)
USS New Jersey was a Virginia-class battleship of the United States Navy. She was the first ship to carry her name. New Jersey was launched on 10 November 1904 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts; sponsored by Mrs. William B. Kenney, daughter of Governor Franklin Murphy of...
and receiving a promotion to captain.
Later career
In the 1920s, Kaiser was assigned to the hydrographicHydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
office in Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. In 1923, he was briefly the acting-commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the 8th Naval District before being assigned to the New York hydrographic office. He retired April 1, 1925.
He died in 1939 and is buried in 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...
.