William Gilmer
Encyclopedia
William Wirt Gilmer was a United States Navy
Captain who served as both the 22nd and 24th Naval Governor of Guam. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy
, he commanded the USS South Carolina
during World War I
, for which he received the Navy Cross
. During his two terms as governor, he proved one of the most contentious leaders in Guam's history. He exercised a large amount of control over islanders' daily lives, including banning whistling and smoking and setting up a curfew. He came into conflict with prominent Americans and Washington Naval leaders when he outlawed marriage between whites and non-whites on the island, believing the Chamorro people inferior. Eventually, concerned islanders gained the attention of Secretary of the Navy Robert Coontz
, who had Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Franklin D. Roosevelt
personally order the rescinding of the act. Gilmer was removed for a short time before serving a second term.
During his second term, he continued making numerous edicts, eventually equaling 50 separate orders. He required all men over sixteen to carry identification cards, partially in an effort to wipe out the Spanish naming customs of adopting both the mother's and father's name. Seen as autocratic and abusive of his power, the Navy ultimately removed him from the post in 1920. A number of geographical features in Alaska
, as well as a school in North Carolina
, are named after him, largely during an expedition that he took part in to explore parts of the Alaskan islands.
in 1885. As an ensign, he served aboard the USS Nipsic
. In 1906, he married Florence Peterson.
During World War I
, he commanded the USS South Carolina
, for which he received the Navy Cross
. He retired with the rank of Captain after resigning his commission. Gilmer died on January 8, 1955.
experienced an outbreak of influenza
, and though he set up quarantine zones upon taking command, the pandemic lasted through December, with nearly a thousand dead.
Gilmer's administration proved very controversial as he exercised a large amount of control over the activities of the island's inhabitants. He outlawed alcohol
, smoking, and whistling. Further, he forbid any parties that lasted after 10 PM. In an effort to curtail the growing rat problem, Gilmer forced all residents to either deliver the heads of five rats or a tax of twenty-five cents to the government every month.
Gilmer came into conflict with prominent American families on the island and stateside naval officials. He issued an order that forbade any white American
from marrying a Chamorro or Filipino
spouse, arguing such marriages created a new class that "wields a powerful influence" and caused servicemen to leave the navy and fall under the influence of native religions. A committee of forty-two prominent Guamanians signed a petition against the order, and the Legislature of Guam
formally objected to the order. Gilmer attempted to justify his order to the committee in 1919 by claiming that "if a man in the United States marries a woman of any other color, he sinks immediately to the level of his wife." James H. Underwood, postmaster of the island, wrote directly to officials in Washington, D.C.
to protest the move, as many Americans had already married Chamorros. He eventually obtained a meeting with the Chief of Naval Operations
, former Guam governor Robert Coontz
, and soon after Franklin D. Roosevelt
, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy
, personally wrote to Gilmer and ordered the law revoked, allowing whites to again marry Chamorros and Filipinos. He was relieved of duty soon after the incident.
Gilmer returned for a second from December 21, 1919 to July 7, 1920. In March 1920, Gilmer began requiring that all men sixteen and older obtain a cèdula personal, essentially an identification document issued by the government. These documents were used to interact with the government during matters like tax payment, land transfers, birth certification, and anything in the court system. At the same time, these documents were meant to discourage the Guamanian practice of using Spanish naming customs, in which a person used the father's last name, followed by the mother's maiden name, and forced the western custom of using the father's name as the last name upon the people.
Throughout his two terms, he issued over 50 orders, many of them later viewed as autocratic, and increased the use of the death penalty exponentially, which had only been used once before during America's occupation of the island before him.
Eventually, Gilmer was removed from office after many of his orders were seen as abuses of power and embarrassing to the Navy. After his removal from his post, Gilmer resigned his Navy commission.
administered by the Seventh-day Adventist Church
, the Captain Gilmer School is named after him. The school's name was changed to "The Captain Gilmer School" in 1950 after Gilmer gave $2000 for the construction of an additional classroom and two bathrooms.
Gilmer Bay on the western shore of Kruzof Island
was named after him in 1897, while he was a lieutenant. As an ensign, he served in an exploration party, during which Gilmore Cove on Partofshikof Island
was named after him.
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 who served as both the 22nd and 24th Naval Governor of Guam. A graduate of 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...
, he commanded the USS South Carolina
USS South Carolina (BB-26)
USS South Carolina , the lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the eighth state, and was the first American dreadnought or all-big gun battleship....
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...
. During his two terms as governor, he proved one of the most contentious leaders in Guam's history. He exercised a large amount of control over islanders' daily lives, including banning whistling and smoking and setting up a curfew. He came into conflict with prominent Americans and Washington Naval leaders when he outlawed marriage between whites and non-whites on the island, believing the Chamorro people inferior. Eventually, concerned islanders gained the attention of Secretary of the Navy Robert Coontz
Robert Coontz
Robert Edward Coontz was an admiral in the United States Navy, who sailed with the Great White Fleet and served as the second Chief of Naval Operations.-Background:Born in Hannibal, Missouri, Coontz graduated from the U.S...
, who had Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
personally order the rescinding of the act. Gilmer was removed for a short time before serving a second term.
During his second term, he continued making numerous edicts, eventually equaling 50 separate orders. He required all men over sixteen to carry identification cards, partially in an effort to wipe out the Spanish naming customs of adopting both the mother's and father's name. Seen as autocratic and abusive of his power, the Navy ultimately removed him from the post in 1920. A number of geographical features in 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...
, as well as a school in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, are named after him, largely during an expedition that he took part in to explore parts of the Alaskan islands.
Life and naval career
Gilmer 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 1885. As an ensign, he served aboard the USS Nipsic
USS Nipsic (1863)
USS Nipsic was a gunboat in the United States Navy. The ship was laid down on 24 December 1862 by Portsmouth Navy Yard; launched on 15 June 1863; sponsored by Miss Rebecca Scott; and commissioned on 2 September 1863, Lieutenant Commander George Bacon in command.-1863–1873:Nipsic arrived off...
. In 1906, he married Florence Peterson.
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 South Carolina
USS South Carolina (BB-26)
USS South Carolina , the lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the eighth state, and was the first American dreadnought or all-big gun battleship....
, 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...
. He retired with the rank of Captain after resigning his commission. Gilmer died on January 8, 1955.
Governorship
Gilmer served two terms as Naval Governor of Guam. His first term lasted from November 15, 1918 to November 22, 1919. A month before he arrived, GuamGuam
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...
experienced an outbreak of influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, and though he set up quarantine zones upon taking command, the pandemic lasted through December, with nearly a thousand dead.
Gilmer's administration proved very controversial as he exercised a large amount of control over the activities of the island's inhabitants. He outlawed alcohol
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, smoking, and whistling. Further, he forbid any parties that lasted after 10 PM. In an effort to curtail the growing rat problem, Gilmer forced all residents to either deliver the heads of five rats or a tax of twenty-five cents to the government every month.
Gilmer came into conflict with prominent American families on the island and stateside naval officials. He issued an order that forbade any white American
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
from marrying a Chamorro or Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
spouse, arguing such marriages created a new class that "wields a powerful influence" and caused servicemen to leave the navy and fall under the influence of native religions. A committee of forty-two prominent Guamanians signed a petition against the order, and the Legislature of Guam
Legislature of Guam
The Legislature of Guam is the territorial legislature of Guam. The legislative branch of the unincorporated U.S. territory is unicameral, with a single house consisting of fifteen senators, serving for a two year term...
formally objected to the order. Gilmer attempted to justify his order to the committee in 1919 by claiming that "if a man in the United States marries a woman of any other color, he sinks immediately to the level of his wife." James H. Underwood, postmaster of the island, wrote directly to officials 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....
to protest the move, as many Americans had already married Chamorros. He eventually obtained a meeting with the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
, former Guam governor Robert Coontz
Robert Coontz
Robert Edward Coontz was an admiral in the United States Navy, who sailed with the Great White Fleet and served as the second Chief of Naval Operations.-Background:Born in Hannibal, Missouri, Coontz graduated from the U.S...
, and soon after Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....
, personally wrote to Gilmer and ordered the law revoked, allowing whites to again marry Chamorros and Filipinos. He was relieved of duty soon after the incident.
Gilmer returned for a second from December 21, 1919 to July 7, 1920. In March 1920, Gilmer began requiring that all men sixteen and older obtain a cèdula personal, essentially an identification document issued by the government. These documents were used to interact with the government during matters like tax payment, land transfers, birth certification, and anything in the court system. At the same time, these documents were meant to discourage the Guamanian practice of using Spanish naming customs, in which a person used the father's last name, followed by the mother's maiden name, and forced the western custom of using the father's name as the last name upon the people.
Throughout his two terms, he issued over 50 orders, many of them later viewed as autocratic, and increased the use of the death penalty exponentially, which had only been used once before during America's occupation of the island before him.
Eventually, Gilmer was removed from office after many of his orders were seen as abuses of power and embarrassing to the Navy. After his removal from his post, Gilmer resigned his Navy commission.
Legacy
In North Carolina, a parochial elementary schoolParochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
administered by the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, the Captain Gilmer School is named after him. The school's name was changed to "The Captain Gilmer School" in 1950 after Gilmer gave $2000 for the construction of an additional classroom and two bathrooms.
Gilmer Bay on the western shore of Kruzof Island
Kruzof Island
Kruzof Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska at . It is about west of Sitka, and is part of the City and Borough of Sitka. It was named in 1805 by Captain U.T. Lisianski as Crooze Island, after a Russian Admiral...
was named after him in 1897, while he was a lieutenant. As an ensign, he served in an exploration party, during which Gilmore Cove on Partofshikof Island
Partofshikof Island
Partofshikof Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska, USA. It is part of the City and Borough of Sitka, and lies between the northern part of Kruzof Island and the northwestern part of Baranof Island. It is separated from Kruzof Island by Sukoi Inlet, and separated...
was named after him.