William H. G. Bullard
Encyclopedia
William Hannum Grubb Bullard (6 December 1866 – 24 November 1927) was an admiral of the United States Navy
, whose service included duty during the Spanish-American War
and World War I
. After World War I, he established the Navy's patrol on China's Yangtze River
. A noted electrical engineer, he wrote a popular handbook on naval electrical systems, and contributed to the use of radio in the Navy.
, a community about 12 miles west of Philadelphia, on December 6, 1866. His father was Orson Flagg Bullard, a member of the Pennsylvania legislature. William graduated from Media High School in 1882, as a member of the school's first graduating class. He then attended the United States Naval Academy
, graduating in 1886. He returned to the Naval Academy in the mid-1890s, where he participated on the officers' summer baseball team.
He served in during the Spanish-American War and commanded the battleship , serving with the British Grand Fleet
, during World War I.
On August 5, 1921, the Yangtze Patrol
force was organized under Rear Admiral Bullard as part of the Asiatic Fleet. During the unsettled conditions in China during the 1920s and 1930s, the Navy patrolled the Yangtze to protect United States interests, lives, and property.
On 13 December 1912, Captain Bullard was appointed Superintendent of the Naval Radio Service, within the Bureau of Navigation. During his tenure, he developed a Handbook of Regulations (1913).
After World War I, Bullard served in 1919 as a member of the Inter-Allied Conference on Radio, and later served as Director of Naval Communications
, Navy Department.
, 24 November 1927.
USS Bullard
(DD-660) after him. In February 1946, construction was completed on the cable-laying vessel SS William H. G. Bullard (M. C. hull 2557), built for the U.S. Maritime Commission by Pusey and Jones Corporation of Wilmington, Del.
. The vessel was acquired by the Navy in 1953 and redesignated USS Neptune (ARC-2).
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...
, whose service included duty 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...
. After World War I, he established the Navy's patrol on China's Yangtze River
Yangtze Patrol
The Yangtze Patrol, from 1854 to 1945, was a prolonged naval operation to protect American interests in the Yangtze River's treaty ports. Initially the patrol was carried out by ships of the United States Navy's East India and Asiatic Squadrons. In 1922, the "YangPat" was established as a formal...
. A noted electrical engineer, he wrote a popular handbook on naval electrical systems, and contributed to the use of radio in the Navy.
Early life and education
He was born in Media, Pa.Media, Pennsylvania
The borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and is located west of Philadelphia. Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat. The population was 5,533 at the 2000 census. Its school district is the Rose Tree Media School District...
, a community about 12 miles west of Philadelphia, on December 6, 1866. His father was Orson Flagg Bullard, a member of the Pennsylvania legislature. William graduated from Media High School in 1882, as a member of the school's first graduating class. He then attended 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...
, graduating in 1886. He returned to the Naval Academy in the mid-1890s, where he participated on the officers' summer baseball team.
Overseas duty
British Grand Fleet
The Grand Fleet was the main fleet of the British Royal Navy during the First World War.-History:It was formed in 1914 by the British Atlantic Fleet combined with the Home Fleet and it included 35-40 state-of-the-art capital ships. It was initially commanded by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe...
, during World War I.
On August 5, 1921, the Yangtze Patrol
Yangtze Patrol
The Yangtze Patrol, from 1854 to 1945, was a prolonged naval operation to protect American interests in the Yangtze River's treaty ports. Initially the patrol was carried out by ships of the United States Navy's East India and Asiatic Squadrons. In 1922, the "YangPat" was established as a formal...
force was organized under Rear Admiral Bullard as part of the Asiatic Fleet. During the unsettled conditions in China during the 1920s and 1930s, the Navy patrolled the Yangtze to protect United States interests, lives, and property.
Contributions to electrical engineering
Bullard gained a reputation as an authority on electrical systems and radio communications. In 1904, while still a junior officer, In 1904, the then-lieutenant published through the United States Naval Institute a work titled Naval Electricians' Text and Handbook. Later retitled the Naval Electricians' Text Book, the work went through multiple editions, being re-released in 1908, 1911, 1915, and 1917.On 13 December 1912, Captain Bullard was appointed Superintendent of the Naval Radio Service, within the Bureau of Navigation. During his tenure, he developed a Handbook of Regulations (1913).
After World War I, Bullard served in 1919 as a member of the Inter-Allied Conference on Radio, and later served as Director of Naval Communications
Director of Naval Communications
Director of Naval Communications was a post on the staff of the United States Navy's Chief of Naval Operations responsible for organizing, administering and operating the Naval Communications Service. In Navy parlance, this was Op-20. Created in 1916, the position replaced that of the...
, Navy Department.
Retirement and legacy
Rear Admiral Bullard retired in 1922 and died 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....
, 24 November 1927.
Namesakes
Two ships have been named in Bullard's honor. In 1943, the Navy named the destroyerDestroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
USS Bullard
USS Bullard (DD-660)
USS Bullard was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral William H. G. Bullard ....
(DD-660) after him. In February 1946, construction was completed on the cable-laying vessel SS William H. G. Bullard (M. C. hull 2557), built for the U.S. Maritime Commission by Pusey and Jones Corporation of Wilmington, Del.
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. The vessel was acquired by the Navy in 1953 and redesignated USS Neptune (ARC-2).
External links
- DANFS: USS Neptune (ARC-2) - from the Naval Historical Center
- Photo of Bullard as a member of the officers' summer baseball team, 1895, United States Naval Academy, Photo #: NH 53161 - from the Naval Historical Center
- Media High School: The First Graduates: The Class of 1882