Seaton Schroeder
Encyclopedia
Seaton Schroeder was an admiral of the United States Navy
.
, on 17 August 1849 the son of Frances Schroeder, who was the United States Ambassador to Sweden
. His mother was the daughter of William Winston Seaton
, who, with his brother-in-law, Joseph Gales
, owned and edited the National Intelligencer
. Seaton served as the Mayor of Washington, D.C., from 1840 to 1850.
He entered the United States Naval Academy
in 1864, which, because of the American Civil War
, was in Newport
, Rhode Island
. After graduating in June 1868 he served with the Pacific Fleet
in 1868-69 under Admiral John Rodgers in screw sloop
, , and fought in the Salt River near Seoul
, Korea
. His sea tours took him to Alaska
, Japan
, and the Philippines
in , to the West Indies in , and on a world cruise on .
, 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
. She was also a great-granddaughter of Sarah Franklin Bache
and Richard Bache
, and more notably she was the great-great-granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin
as well as a niece of George Mifflin Dallas the 11th Vice President of the United States
, serving under James K. Polk
.
His brother-in-law was Admiral Richard Wainwright.
duties for 11 years, he spent two years in the Office of Naval Intelligence
(ONI) where he helped develop the Driggs-Schroeder rapid-fire gun. He returned to sea in 1890 as the Commanding Officer of . In 1893, he began a three-year tour as ordnance officer for the Washington Navy Yard
and as the recorder of the Board of Inspection and Survey
; and joined the Board as a member in 1894.
Following his appointment as executive officer of the battleship
, he participated in the American blockade
of Santiago
, Cuba
, during the Spanish–American War and was advanced three numbers in rank "for eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle" during five engagements between 31 May and 4 July 1898.
He was appointed Naval governor of Guam
on 19 July 1900, and there commanded and later, . On 1 May 1903, Schroeder became Chief Intelligence Officer of the Navy. He assumed command of upon her first commissioning on 7 May 1906 and afterwards commanded various divisions in the Atlantic Fleet.
Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1908, he hoisted his flag on when he took command of the Atlantic Fleet on 8 March 1909.
Two months later, Schroeder was assigned to the Navy General Board
. Schroeder was placed on the retired list on 17 August 1911 and retired to his home in Jamestown, Rhode Island
.
Rear Admiral Schroeder was recalled to active duty in 1912 to prepare a new signal book, and again in World War I
to serve as Chief Hydrographer and the Navy representative on the United States Geographic Board
. He died at the Naval Hospital, Washington, D.C., on 19 October 1922.
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
Schroeder was 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....
, on 17 August 1849 the son of Frances Schroeder, who was the United States Ambassador to Sweden
United States Ambassador to Sweden
The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
. His mother was the daughter of William Winston Seaton
William Winston Seaton
William Winston Seaton was an American journalist, born in King William County, Va.From 1812 until 1860 he was, with his brother-in-law Joseph Gales, proprietor of the National Intelligencer at Washington, D.C. From 1812 until 1820 the two were the only reporters of congressional proceedings...
, who, with his brother-in-law, Joseph Gales
Joseph Gales
Joseph Gales, Jr. was an American journalist, born in Eckington, Derbyshire, England. His father, Joseph Gales, Sr. , was a printer in Sheffield, who was compelled to emigrate to America in 1795 because of his republican principles.-History:The son was educated at the University of North Carolina...
, owned and edited the National Intelligencer
National Intelligencer
The National Intelligencer newspaper was published in Washington, D.C. from about 1800 until 1870.Until 1810 it was named the National intelligencer, and Washington advertiser. Its name changed to the National Intelligencer starting with the issue of November 27, 1810...
. Seaton served as the Mayor of Washington, D.C., from 1840 to 1850.
He 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 1864, which, because of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, was in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. After graduating in June 1868 he served with the Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
in 1868-69 under Admiral John Rodgers in screw sloop
Screw sloop
A screw sloop is a propeller-driven sloop-of-war. In the 19th century, during the introduction of the steam engine, ships driven by propellers were differentiated from those driven by paddle-wheels by referring to the ship's screws...
, , and fought in the Salt River near Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. His sea tours took him to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in , to the West Indies in , and on a world cruise on .
Marriage and family
He married on January 16, 1879 at Washington, D.C., Maria Campbell Bache Wainwright, born March 14, 1856 at Washington, D.C., and died in 1925 at Jamestown, Rhode Island. She was the daughter of Sarah Franklin Bache and Richard Wainwright. She was the granddaughter 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...
. She was also a great-granddaughter 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 she was the great-great-granddaughter 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 niece 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...
.
His brother-in-law was Admiral Richard Wainwright.
Career
After specializing in 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...
duties for 11 years, he spent two years in the Office of Naval Intelligence
Office of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...
(ONI) where he helped develop the Driggs-Schroeder rapid-fire gun. He returned to sea in 1890 as the Commanding Officer of . In 1893, he began a three-year tour as ordnance officer for the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
and as the recorder of the Board of Inspection and Survey
Board of Inspection and Survey
The Board of Inspection and Survey is a U.S. Navy organization whose purpose is to inspect and assess material condition of Naval vessels.The Board is currently headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.- INSURV teams :...
; and joined the Board as a member in 1894.
Following his appointment as executive officer of 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...
, he participated in the American blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
of Santiago
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
, 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...
, during the Spanish–American War and was advanced three numbers in rank "for eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle" during five engagements between 31 May and 4 July 1898.
He was appointed Naval governor of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
on 19 July 1900, and there commanded and later, . On 1 May 1903, Schroeder became Chief Intelligence Officer of the Navy. He assumed command of upon her first commissioning on 7 May 1906 and afterwards commanded various divisions in the Atlantic Fleet.
Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1908, he hoisted his flag on when he took command of the Atlantic Fleet on 8 March 1909.
Two months later, Schroeder was assigned to the Navy General Board
General Board of the United States Navy
The General Board of the United States Navy was an advisory body of the United States Navy, effectively a naval general staff. The General Board was established by general order 544, issued on March 13, 1900 by John Davis Long. The order was officially recognized by Congress in 1916...
. Schroeder was placed on the retired list on 17 August 1911 and retired to his home in Jamestown, Rhode Island
Jamestown, Rhode Island
Jamestown is a town located in Newport County, Rhode Island, in the United States. The population was 5,405 at the 2010 census. Jamestown is situated almost entirely on Conanicut Island, the second largest island in Narragansett Bay.-History:...
.
Rear Admiral Schroeder was recalled to active duty in 1912 to prepare a new signal book, and again in 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...
to serve as Chief Hydrographer and the Navy representative on the United States Geographic Board
United States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the U.S. government.-Overview:...
. He died at the Naval Hospital, Washington, D.C., on 19 October 1922.
External links
- My Days on the Albatross by Lt. Seaton Schroeder