Philip Williams
Encyclopedia
Phillip Williams was a decorated Captain of the United States Navy
and one-time military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands.
Williams entered the United States Naval Academy
in 1889, became an Ensign in 1891, a lieutenant junior grade in 1894, and a lieutenant
in 1897. He served in the Spanish-American War
and commanded the during World War I
, for which he received the Navy Cross
. In 1919, he was given command of the , before being reassigned to the Bureau of Navigation
. From 1922 to 1924, he commanded the , before being appointed as Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
.
On August 28, 1924, a hurricane swept through the islands, resulting in four deaths and one person still missing, all on St. John. In addition, 300-400 houses were destroyed and the American Red Cross
sent $5000 (approximately $54,000 in 2005 dollars) in aid. The nearby British island of Tortola
suffered many more casualties and resources were dispatched from the US Virgin Islands to assist.
Williams resigned as Governor due to health problems in 1926 and retired from the Navy in 1927. Following his retirement, he continued to work with the Navy and authored several textbooks using in the academy.
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...
and one-time military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands.
Williams entered 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, became an Ensign in 1891, a lieutenant junior grade in 1894, and a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1897. He served 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...
and commanded the 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...
, for which he received the Navy Cross
Navy 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...
. In 1919, he was given command of the , before being reassigned to the Bureau of Navigation
Bureau of Navigation
The Bureau of Navigation was an agency of the U.S. government established in 1884 to enforce laws relating to the construction, equipment, operation, inspection, safety, and documentation of merchant vessels. The Bureau of Navigation was an agency of the U.S. government established in 1884 to...
. From 1922 to 1924, he commanded the , before being appointed as Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
.
Time as Governor
During his turn as Governor, the previous governments of the islands were criticized for not doing enough to fortify the islands as a military base. Political pressure was also mounting as the Colonial Council, the local government body, voted to request greater authority over the islands, but were denied. (The rationale being that they did not suffer from "taxation without representation" because the amount paid in taxes by the islanders were less than the amount of support received yearly from the Federal government.)On August 28, 1924, a hurricane swept through the islands, resulting in four deaths and one person still missing, all on St. John. In addition, 300-400 houses were destroyed and the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
sent $5000 (approximately $54,000 in 2005 dollars) in aid. The nearby British island of Tortola
Tortola
Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. Local tradition recounts that Christopher Columbus named it Tortola, meaning "land of the Turtle Dove". Columbus named the island Santa Ana...
suffered many more casualties and resources were dispatched from the US Virgin Islands to assist.
Williams resigned as Governor due to health problems in 1926 and retired from the Navy in 1927. Following his retirement, he continued to work with the Navy and authored several textbooks using in the academy.