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Richard Wainwright (Spanish-American War naval officer)
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright (17 December 1849–6 March 1926), son of Commander Richard Wainwright, was an officer in the United States Navy
during the Spanish-American War
.
, the son of Sarah Franklin Bache and Richard Wainwright. He was the grandson of Richard Bache, Jr.
, who served in the Republic of Texas
Navy and was elected as a Representative to the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and Sophia Burrell Dallas, the daughter of Arabella Maria Smith and Alexander J. Dallas
an American statesman who served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary under President James Madison
. He was also great-grandson of Sarah Franklin Bache
and Richard Bache
, and more notably he was the great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin
as well as a nephew of George Mifflin Dallas the 11th Vice President of the United States
, serving under James K. Polk
.
, Commander, United States Navy, earned the Medal of Honor
for his service at Vera Cruz, Mexico, and is also buried in the cemetery at the United States Naval Academy.
His brother-in-law was Admiral Seaton Schroeder
.
on 28 September 1864. Wainwright was executive officer on board the battleship
when she blew up in the harbor of Havana
, Cuba
, on 15 February 1898. Surviving the explosion, he was assigned to command of the tender and was in charge of the recovery of the bodies of the victims. He also assisted in the collection of information for the subsequent court of inquiry.
Wainwright later commanded the gunboat
at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
on 3 July 1898. In this engagement, Gloucester sank one Spanish
torpedo boat
and drove another on the beach. Wainwright was commended for his valor in this action. In 1904 he commanded American forces during the Santo Domingo Affair
in which his ships shelled rebel troops and supported and amphibious assault. Later, promoted to rear admiral, he commanded the Second Division of the United States Atlantic Fleet
during that fleet's historic voyage
around the world from 1907-1909.
Retired from active duty on December 7, 1911. Admiral Wainwright died on March 6, 1926 in Washington, D.C.
and two cousins.
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...
.
Early life and ancestors
Born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, the son of Sarah Franklin Bache and Richard Wainwright. He was the grandson of Richard Bache, Jr.
Richard Bache Jr. (Texas politician)
Richard Bache, Jr. , was a Representative to the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and assisted in drawing up the Texas Constitution of 1845, the first of Texas' five state constitutions.-Early life and ancestors:...
, who served in the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
Navy and was elected as a Representative to the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and Sophia Burrell Dallas, the daughter of Arabella Maria Smith and Alexander J. Dallas
Alexander J. Dallas (statesman)
Alexander James Dallas was an American statesman who served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary under President James Madison....
an American statesman who served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary under President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
. He was also great-grandson of Sarah Franklin Bache
Sarah Franklin Bache
Sarah Franklin “Sally” Bache was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Deborah Read.Known as "Sally" throughout her life, she was an ardent American patriot during the Revolutionary War through relief work and as her father's political hostess...
and Richard Bache
Richard Bache
Richard Bache , born in Yorkshire, England, was the son-in-law of Benjamin Franklin. After arriving in Philadelphia from Yorkshire, England, in 1761, Bache prospered as a marine insurance underwriter and importer. In 1767, misfortune struck; debts contracted by him were repudiated by his London...
, and more notably he was the great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
as well as a nephew of George Mifflin Dallas the 11th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, serving under James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
.
Marriage and family
He married on September 11, 1873 at Washington, D.C., Evelyn Wotherspoon, born June 13, 1853 at Washington, D.C., and died on November 24, 1937 at Washington, D.C. Their son, Richard Wainwright, Jr.Richard Wainwright (World War I naval officer)
Commander Richard Wainwright, Jr. was an officer in the United States Navy during World War I who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the 1914 Veracruz action.-Biography:...
, Commander, United States Navy, earned the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his service at Vera Cruz, Mexico, and is also buried in the cemetery at the United States Naval Academy.
His brother-in-law was Admiral Seaton Schroeder
Seaton Schroeder
Seaton Schroeder was an admiral of the United States Navy.-Biography:Schroeder was born in Washington, D.C., on 17 August 1849 the son of Frances Schroeder, who was the United States Ambassador to Sweden...
.
Career
Wainwright was initially commissioned in the United States NavyUnited 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...
on 28 September 1864. Wainwright was executive officer on board the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
when she blew up in the harbor of Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, on 15 February 1898. Surviving the explosion, he was assigned to command of the tender and was in charge of the recovery of the bodies of the victims. He also assisted in the collection of information for the subsequent court of inquiry.
Wainwright later commanded 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:...
at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought between Spain and the United States on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Navy's Caribbean Squadron.-Spanish Fleet:...
on 3 July 1898. In this engagement, Gloucester sank one Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
and drove another on the beach. Wainwright was commended for his valor in this action. In 1904 he commanded American forces during the Santo Domingo Affair
Santo Domingo Affair
The Santo Domingo Affair, or the Santo Domingo Crisis, refers to an incident in 1904 involving the United States and insurgent forces of Carlos F. Morales in the present day Dominican Republic...
in which his ships shelled rebel troops and supported and amphibious assault. Later, promoted to rear admiral, he commanded the Second Division of the United States Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
during that fleet's historic voyage
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
around the world from 1907-1909.
Retired from active duty on December 7, 1911. Admiral Wainwright died on March 6, 1926 in Washington, D.C.
Namesakes
Three ships have been named for Richard, his father, his sonRichard Wainwright (World War I naval officer)
Commander Richard Wainwright, Jr. was an officer in the United States Navy during World War I who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the 1914 Veracruz action.-Biography:...
and two cousins.