William A. Hodgman
Encyclopedia
William Adams Hodgman was a United States Navy
captain and diplomat. He served on a number of ships, and briefly as the 23rd Naval Governor of Guam. During World War I
, he commanded the USS Roe
, for which he received the Navy Cross
. After leaving the Navy, he served as commercial attaché
to several countries, notably to Hungary
, where he gained notoriety for striking a Duke at a party.
in 1908, after being appointed from New York
. He served on a number of ships during his career. In 1913, as an ensign, he served aboard the USS Nebraska
. In 1917, Hodgman, then a lieutenant
, served aboard the USS Connecticut
. Hodgman served as acting Governor of Guam
from November 22, 1919 to December 21, 1919. As a lieutenant commander
, he received the Navy Cross
for his exceptional command of the USS Roe
during World War I
. He retired as a captain.
to Guatemala
. In 1931, he was acting as commercial attaché to Hungary
when he became involved in a diplomatic incident. He had been hosting a party shortly before returning to the United States
on leave. There, Heinrich Borwin, Duke of the House of Mecklenburg
, made disparaging remarks about some of Hodgman's guests, prompting the diplomat to strike Borwin. Borwin consequently challenged Hodgman to a duel, which he declined before returning to the United States shortly thereafter. Despite this incident, Hodgman kept his post as diplomat, and was assigned to Montevideo
, Uruguay
later the same year.
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...
captain and diplomat. He served on a number of ships, and briefly as the 23rd Naval Governor of Guam. 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...
, he commanded the USS Roe
USS Roe (DD-24)
USS Roe was a in the United States Navy during World War I, and later in the United States Coast Guard designated CG-18. She was the first ship named for Francis Asbury Roe....
, 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...
. After leaving the Navy, he served as commercial attaché
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
to several countries, notably to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, where he gained notoriety for striking a Duke at a party.
Naval career
Hodgman graduated from the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1908, after being appointed from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He served on a number of ships during his career. In 1913, as an ensign, he served aboard the USS Nebraska
USS Nebraska (BB-14)
USS Nebraska was a Virginia-class pre-dreadnought battleship of the United States Navy. She was the first ship to carry her name.- History :...
. In 1917, Hodgman, then a lieutenant
Lieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
, served aboard the USS Connecticut
USS Connecticut (BB-18)
USS Connecticut , the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after the state of Connecticut, was the lead ship of her class of six. Her keel was laid on 10 March 1903; launched on 29 September 1904, Connecticut was commissioned on 29 September 1906 as the most advanced ship in the U.S...
. Hodgman served as acting 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...
from November 22, 1919 to December 21, 1919. As a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
, 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...
for his exceptional command of the USS Roe
USS Roe (DD-24)
USS Roe was a in the United States Navy during World War I, and later in the United States Coast Guard designated CG-18. She was the first ship named for Francis Asbury Roe....
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...
. He retired as a captain.
Diplomatic work
After leaving the Navy, Hodgman served as a commercial attachéAttaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. In 1931, he was acting as commercial attaché to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
when he became involved in a diplomatic incident. He had been hosting a party shortly before returning to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on leave. There, Heinrich Borwin, Duke of the House of Mecklenburg
House of Mecklenburg
The House of Mecklenburg is a North German dynasty of West Slavic origin that ruled until 1918.- Origins :Niklot was a lord of the Wendish tribe of Obotrites. When the Holy Roman Empire expanded eastwards, notably to the coast of Baltic in 13th century, a portion of Obotrite lords allied with...
, made disparaging remarks about some of Hodgman's guests, prompting the diplomat to strike Borwin. Borwin consequently challenged Hodgman to a duel, which he declined before returning to the United States shortly thereafter. Despite this incident, Hodgman kept his post as diplomat, and was assigned to Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
later the same year.