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Ralph Earle (American naval officer)
Encyclopedia
Ralph Earle served the United States Navy
during the Spanish-American War
and World War I
. He was the Chief, Bureau of Ordnance
(BUORD) and retired as a rear admiral in 1927.
, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1896.
While on board , he won commendations from the President and Secretary of the Navy for his conduct at the time of a disastrous turret explosion. He commanded at the U.S. occupation of Veracruz, Mexico
, and later commanded .
shortly before the United States entered World War I.
Under his administration the North Sea mine barrage was conceived and executed using a new type of mine, and the plan of mounting naval 14-inch guns on railway cars for use as long-range artillery on the Western Front
, was evolved and carried out.
Earle served as president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
until his death, 13 February 1939. Earle, well loved as WPI's sixth president implemented a five year plan which brought the students a swimming pool and a new hall named after R. Sanford Riley among other needed campus improvements.
, was named in his honor. The launch was sponsored by Mrs. John F. Hines, Jr., daughter of Rear Admiral Earle.
The Naval Weapons Station Earle
(New Jersey) was also named (in 1943) to honor the admiral because of his strong association with ordnance projects.
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...
during 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 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...
. He was the Chief, Bureau of Ordnance
Bureau of Ordnance
The Bureau of Ordnance was the U.S. Navy's organization responsible for the procurement, storage, and deployment of all naval ordnance, between the years 1862 and 1959.-History:...
(BUORD) and retired as a rear admiral in 1927.
Early years
Earle was born and died in Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, and 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 1896.
Navy service
He served at sea in several ships, among them , , and .While on board , he won commendations from the President and Secretary of the Navy for his conduct at the time of a disastrous turret explosion. He commanded at the U.S. occupation of Veracruz, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and later commanded .
Ordnance expertise
Ashore, Earle had duty at the U.S. Naval Academy and the Naval Proving Ground. An expert on guns and explosives, he was made Chief of the Bureau of OrdnanceBureau of Ordnance
The Bureau of Ordnance was the U.S. Navy's organization responsible for the procurement, storage, and deployment of all naval ordnance, between the years 1862 and 1959.-History:...
shortly before the United States entered World War I.
Under his administration the North Sea mine barrage was conceived and executed using a new type of mine, and the plan of mounting naval 14-inch guns on railway cars for use as long-range artillery on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, was evolved and carried out.
Later years
After his retirement in 1927, Rear AdmiralRear 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 :...
Earle served as president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI was one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities...
until his death, 13 February 1939. Earle, well loved as WPI's sixth president implemented a five year plan which brought the students a swimming pool and a new hall named after R. Sanford Riley among other needed campus improvements.
Honored in ship naming
The , launched 10 December 1941 by Boston Navy YardBoston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
, was named in his honor. The launch was sponsored by Mrs. John F. Hines, Jr., daughter of Rear Admiral Earle.
The Naval Weapons Station Earle
Naval Weapons Station Earle
Naval Weapons Station Earle is a United States Navy base in New Jersey. Its distinguishing feature is a 2.9-mile pier in Sandy Hook Bay where ammunition can be loaded and unloaded from warships at a safe distance from land....
(New Jersey) was also named (in 1943) to honor the admiral because of his strong association with ordnance projects.