Charles Emerson Hovey (10 January 1885 – 24 September 1911) was an officer in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

during the Philippine–American War. He wrote the first edition of the ''Watch Officer's Manual'', published in 1911 and kept in print in subsequent revisions into the 21st century by the

United States Naval Institute The United States Naval Institute (USNI) is a private non-profit military association that offers independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national security issues. In addition to publishing magazines and books, the Naval Institute holds se ...

. Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Hovey graduated from the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

in 1907. He served aboard the in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

in 1911. While in charge of a shore party on the island of

Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan ( cbk, Provincia de Basilan; yka, Wilayah Basilanin; tsg, Wilaya' sin Basilan; fil, Lalawigan ng Basilan), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Reg ...

, Hovey was killed by gunshot when attacked by Filipinos on 24 September 1911. was named for him. Veterans of Foreign Wars post #168 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is also named for him as Emerson Hovey. There is some irony in this - the Philippine conflict was not classified as a "foreign war" at the time of his death, since the Philippines was then a U.S. colony. There is also a fountain in Portsmouth's waterfront Prescott Park honoring him.

References

1885 births 1911 deaths Writers from Portsmouth, New Hampshire United States Navy officers United States Naval Academy alumni American military personnel killed in the Philippine–American War Military personnel from New Hampshire {{US-navy-bio-stub