William Michael Crose
Encyclopedia
William Michael Crose was a United States Navy
Commander
and the seventh Naval Governor of American Samoa, from November 10, 1910 to March 14, 1913. He was the first person designated "Governor of American Samoa
", rather than the previous "Governor of Tutuila".
on February 8, 1867. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
on May 19, 1884 and graduated in 1888.
awarded Crose the Navy Cross
for "exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. NORTH DAKOTA in the Atlantic Fleet, during World War I." On July 1, 1890, Crose was commissioned into the United States Navy as an Ensign. On May 10, 1898, he became a Lieutenant (junior grade), and a Lieutenant on March 3, 1898. He was stationed on the USS Galena
in 1888, the USS Marion
in 1890, the Naval Hydrographic office
in 1894, the USS Pinta
in 1895, the USS Wheeling
the same year, the Bureau of Equipment
in 1898, and the USS Kentucky
in 1900.
of command of United States Naval Station Tutuila
, becoming the seventh Naval Governor of American Samoa. While Governor, Crose appointed a board of education, composed of a naval chaplain, a naval assistant surgeon, and the wife of a local school teacher. He also pushed for the renaming of the island Naval Post, claiming the name Tutuila was inadequate, as the territory contained additional islands other than Tutuila, and recommending a news name of either "American Samoa" or "Eastern Samoa", a wish he expressed to the Secretary of the Navy in a 1911 letter. On July 17, 1911, the island was officially designated "American Samoa
", and President of the United States
William Howard Taft
recommissioned Crose as "Governor of American Samoa", rather than "Governor of Tutuila" on October 24, 1912.
Crose also amended laws on firearms, perjury
, road maintenance, and importation of animals. On March 14, 1913, Crose transferred command to Nathan Woodworth Post.
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...
Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
and the seventh Naval Governor of American Samoa, from November 10, 1910 to March 14, 1913. He was the first person designated "Governor of American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
", rather than the previous "Governor of Tutuila".
Early life
Crose was born in Greencastle, IndianaGreencastle, Indiana
Greencastle is a city in Greencastle Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States, and the county seat of Putnam County. It was founded in 1821 by Scots-Irish American Ephraim Dukes on a land grant. He named the settlement for his hometown of Greencastle, Pennsylvania...
on February 8, 1867. He was appointed to 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...
on May 19, 1884 and graduated in 1888.
Naval career
The United States Department of the NavyUnited States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
awarded Crose 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 "exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. NORTH DAKOTA in the Atlantic Fleet, during World War I." On July 1, 1890, Crose was commissioned into the United States Navy as an Ensign. On May 10, 1898, he became a Lieutenant (junior grade), and a Lieutenant on March 3, 1898. He was stationed on the USS Galena
USS Galena (1880)
USS Galena, was a wooden steamer built at the Norfolk Navy Yard in 1879 and commissioned there August 26, 1880, with Commander James O'Kane in command. Galena was the second ship of the United States Navy to bear that name....
in 1888, the USS Marion
USS Marion (1839)
USS Marion was a sloop-of-war of the third rate in the Union Navy during the American Civil War.Marion was launched at the Boston Navy Yard on 24 April 1839. On 10 November 1839, she departed Boston on her first cruise, to Brazil. Sunk when heaved down in the harbor at Rio de Janeiro early in 1842,...
in 1890, the Naval Hydrographic office
Hydrographic office
A hydrographic office is an organization which is devoted to acquiring and publishing hydrographic information.Historically, the main tasks of hydrographic offices were the conduction of hydrographic surveys and the publication of nautical charts...
in 1894, the USS Pinta
USS Pinta (1864)
USS Pinta was an iron-hulled screw tug of the United States Navy, launched on October 29, 1864, by Reaney, Son & Archbold, Chester, Pennsylvania, completed in October 1865, and commissioned there, Lt. Comdr. Henry H...
in 1895, the USS Wheeling
USS Wheeling (PG-14)
USS Wheeling was a Wheeling-class gunboat acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1897. She served as a gunboat during the Spanish-American War as well as a convoy escort during World War I...
the same year, the Bureau of Equipment
United States Navy bureau system
The "bureau system" of the United States Navy was the Department of the Navy's material-support organization from 1842 through 1966. The bureau chiefs were largely autonomous, reporting directly to the Secretary of the Navy and managing their respective organizations without the influence of other...
in 1898, and the USS Kentucky
USS Kentucky (BB-6)
USS Kentucky , a Kearsarge-class battleship, was launched on 24 March 1898 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company of Newport News, Virginia, sponsored by Miss Christine Bradley, daughter of Governor William O'Connell Bradley of Kentucky, and commissioned on 15 May 1900, Captain Colby M...
in 1900.
Governorship
On November 10, 1910, Crose relieved Captain John Frederick ParkerJohn Frederick Parker (Navy)
John Fredrick Parker was a Captain in the United States Navy and one-time Governor of American Samoa from 1908 to 1910. John F. Parker was born in Ohio in 1853. He graduated from Annapolis in 1874 and married Elizabeth Scott Lord, niece of President Benjamin Harrison. He served as governor of...
of command of United States Naval Station Tutuila
United States Naval Station Tutuila
United States Naval Station Tutuila was a naval station in Pago Pago Harbor on the island of Tutuila, part of American Samoa, built in 1899 and in operation until 1951. During the United States Navy rule of American Samoa, from 1900 to 1951, it was customary for the commandant of the station to...
, becoming the seventh Naval Governor of American Samoa. While Governor, Crose appointed a board of education, composed of a naval chaplain, a naval assistant surgeon, and the wife of a local school teacher. He also pushed for the renaming of the island Naval Post, claiming the name Tutuila was inadequate, as the territory contained additional islands other than Tutuila, and recommending a news name of either "American Samoa" or "Eastern Samoa", a wish he expressed to the Secretary of the Navy in a 1911 letter. On July 17, 1911, the island was officially designated "American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
", and President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
recommissioned Crose as "Governor of American Samoa", rather than "Governor of Tutuila" on October 24, 1912.
Crose also amended laws on firearms, perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
, road maintenance, and importation of animals. On March 14, 1913, Crose transferred command to Nathan Woodworth Post.