Rear Admiral Spencer Shepard Wood (7 August 1861 – 30 July 1940) was a
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 ...
officer
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...
. His career included service in the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (cloc ...
and
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, command of
battleships and
cruisers, and duty as an aide to a number of senior naval leaders.
Early life
Wood was born in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
,
New York, on 7 August 1861. His family moved to
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
– politically separate from Brooklyn at the time – while he was an infant, and he lived there until the age of 11. He then moved with his grandparents to
Flushing
Flushing may refer to:
Places
* Flushing, Cornwall, a village in the United Kingdom
* Flushing, Queens, New York City
** Flushing Bay, a bay off the north shore of Queens
** Flushing Chinatown (法拉盛華埠), a community in Queens
** Flushin ...
, New York, where he attended the
Flushing Institute.
[Hamersly, p. 293.]
In June 1877, Wood applied to take the competitive examination for admission to the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
at
West Point
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...
, New York, but was turned away for being too young. In 1878, he was appointed to 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 ...
at
Annapolis,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, from the
1st Congressional District of New York by Congressman
James W. Covert
James Way Covert (September 2, 1842 – May 16, 1910) was an American lawyer and politician who served five terms as a United States representative from NYCongDel, New York from 1877 to 1881, and from 1889 to 1895
Biography
Born at Oyster Bay (h ...
. He passed the entrance examination and entered the Naval Academy as a
cadet midshipman
Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Ai ...
on 28 June 1878.
Naval career
1882–1898
Wood graduated from the Naval Academy second in his class in 1882. His first assignment was aboard the
screw
A screw and a bolt (see '' Differentiation between bolt and screw'' below) are similar types of fastener typically made of metal and characterized by a helical ridge, called a ''male thread'' (external thread). Screws and bolts are used to f ...
sloop-of-war at
Hampton Roads,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. After about a year, he transferred in 1883 to duty as an aide on the staff of Rear Admiral
George H. Cooper, commander of the
Home Squadron
The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy and the Atlantic slave trade, make coastal surveys, ...
, aboard the screw
frigate , during which duty he accompanied Cooper on a visit to
Caracas,
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
, to attend the unveiling of a statue of
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
there.
In May 1884, Wood passed the final examination at the Naval Academy for his final graduation, remaining second his class, and he was promoted to
ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
on 1 July 1884. He then was assigned to the
Naval Experimental Battery at Annapolis for work on new Navy guns and
gunpowder
Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...
.
Wood reported aboard the sloop-of-war at
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...
– at the time a part of the
United States of Colombia
United States of Colombia () was the name adopted in 1863 by the for the Granadine Confederation, after years of civil war. Colombia became a federal state itself composed of nine "sovereign states.” It comprised the present-day nations ...
– in May 1885 and cruised the west coast of
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
aboard her until the autumn of 1887, when ''Iroquois'' steamed to
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
,
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
, for
decommissioning
Decommissioning is a general term for a formal process to remove something from an active status, and may refer to:
Infrastructure
* Decommissioned offshore
* Decommissioned highway
* Greenfield status of former industrial sites
* Nuclear decommi ...
. After she was decommissioned in early 1888, Wood was reassigned to duty aboard the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (abbreviated USC&GS), known from 1807 to 1836 as the Survey of the Coast and from 1836 until 1878 as the United States Coast Survey, was the first scientific agency of the United States Government. It ...
survey ship USC&GS ''Carlile P. Patterson'' for
surveying work along the southeastern coast of the
Territory of Alaska
The Territory of Alaska or Alaska Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from August 24, 1912, until Alaska was granted statehood on January 3, 1959. The territory was previously Russian America, 1784–1867; the ...
, including the
Portland Canal
, image = Hyder Alaska IMG 0276 (22495379342).jpg
, alt =
, caption = Portland Canal from Hyder, Alaska
, image_bathymetry =
, alt_bathymetry =
, caption_bathymetry =
, location = Alaska and British Columbia
, group =
, coordinates ...
, until October 1888. In November 1888 he was among a group of four officers ordered to
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
and
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
to make
astronomical
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxi ...
observations to determine the
longitude
Longitude (, ) is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east– west position of a point on the surface of the Earth, or another celestial body. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek lette ...
of
Coatzacoalcos
Coatzacoalcos () is a major port city in the southern part of the Mexican state of Veracruz, mostly on the western side of the Coatzacoalcos River estuary, on the Bay of Campeche, on the southern Gulf of Mexico coast. The city serves as the municip ...
and
Salina Cruz
Salina Cruz is a major seaport on the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is the state's third-largest city and is the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name.
It is part of the Tehuantepec District in the west of the ...
in Mexico,
La Libertad in
El Salvador, and
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a municipality and coastal town on the Pacific Ocean, in the Rivas department in southwest Nicaragua. It is located south of Managua. San Juan del Sur is popular among surfers and is a vacation spot for many Nicaraguan ...
in
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the countr ...
; the group then traveled to
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, to complete its calculations.
In September 1889, Wood requested a return to sea duty and was assigned to the
Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century. It was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded. Vessels of the squadron were primarily inv ...
, where he served consecutively aboard the screw sloop-of-war , the
gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.
History Pre-ste ...
, and the
tug as
executive officer and
navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation.Grierson, MikeAviation History—Demise of the Flight Navigator FrancoFlyers.org website, October 14, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2014. The navigator's primar ...
before spending his final year in the squadron as
flag lieutenant for the
squadron
Squadron may refer to:
* Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies
* Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, ...
commander, Rear Admiral
George E. Belknap, whom he accompanied back to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
in early 1892. He then awaited orders for two months at his home in Flushing until receiving an assignment in the office of the
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN) is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy.
From 1861 to 1954, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy was the second-highest civilian office in the Depar ...
. In March 1893 he became naval aide to
United States Secretary of the Navy
The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense.
By law, the se ...
Hilary Abner Herbert, and during his tour, which lasted over a year, oversaw many of the details related to guests invited to the 1893
Naval Review
A fleet review or naval review is an event where a gathering of ships from a particular navy is paraded and reviewed by an incumbent head of state and/or other official civilian and military dignitaries. A number of national navies continue to ...
in New York City, accompanied Herbert to New York aboard the gunboat and
dispatch vessel , and escorted
President Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in America ...
from
Jersey City,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
, to his hotel and the following day from his hotel to ''Dolphin'' for the review.
At his own request, Wood was relieved of his duties in the spring of 1894 so that he could become
flag secretary to Rear Admiral
John G. Walker, who was taking command of the
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval s ...
at the time with orders from President Cleveland to observe and report on developments in the
Hawaiian Islands, governed by a
provisional government
A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, or a transitional government, is an emergency governmental authority set up to manage a political transition generally in the cases of a newly formed state or ...
in the aftermath of the 1893
overthrow of the
Kingdom of Hawaii. Promoted to
lieutenant, junior grade
Lieutenant junior grade is a junior commissioned officer rank used in a number of navies.
United States
Lieutenant (junior grade), commonly abbreviated as LTJG or, historically, Lt. (j.g.) (as well as variants of both abbreviations), i ...
, on 11 April 1894 and serving aboard the
protected cruiser
Protected cruisers, a type of naval cruiser of the late-19th century, gained their description because an armoured deck offered protection for vital machine-spaces from fragments caused by shells exploding above them. Protected cruisers re ...
at
Honolulu
Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...
while in the Pacific Squadron, Wood in his duties supporting Walker observed Hawaiis Constitutional Convention and was present at the 4 July 1894 proclamation of that constitution as law, establishing the
Republic of Hawaii. He returned to the United States with Walker in September 1894.
Wood next became flag secretary to Rear Admiral
Richard W. Meade, the commander of the
North Atlantic Squadron
The North Atlantic Squadron was a section of the United States Navy operating in the North Atlantic. It was renamed as the North Atlantic Fleet in 1902. In 1905 the European and South Atlantic squadrons were abolished and absorbed into the Nort ...
, aboard the
armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was designed like other types of cruisers to operate as a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship and fast eno ...
. When Meade retired in May 1895, Wood reported for duty aboard the
receiving ship
A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. Hulk may be used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, an abandoned wreck or shell, or to refer to an old ship that has had its rigging or internal equipmen ...
at the
New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. In September 1895 he took the
torpedo
A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, s ...
instruction course at the
Naval Torpedo Station
The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) is the United States Navy's full-spectrum research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support center for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, and offensive and defensive weapons ...
in
Newport,
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...
.
In October 1895, Wood was ordered to the
Herreshoff Manufacturing Company
Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (March 18, 1848 – June 2, 1938) was an American naval architect, mechanical engineer, and yacht design innovator. He produced a succession of undefeated America's Cup defenders between 1893 and 1920.
Biography
Her ...
in
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
, Rhode Island, as assistant inspector for the construction of the
torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of ...
s and there, and was present throughout their construction and
sea trials
A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft (including boats, ships, and submarines). It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and i ...
. When his superior,
Commander George A. Converse, was detached from duty as inspector, Wood took over as inspector for the construction of ''Du Pont'', and, after being promoted to
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
on 16 September 1897, he became her first
commanding officer when she was
commissioned on 23 September 1897. ''Du Pont'' joined the other torpedo boats of the
Torpedo Flotilla in a voyage southward along the
United States East Coast
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, the Atlantic Coast, and the Atlantic Seaboard, is the coastline along which the Eastern United States meets the North Atlantic Ocean. The eastern seaboard contains the coa ...
, visiting most of the ports between Hampton Roads, Virginia, and
Key West,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, before arriving at Key West on 31 December 1897.
Spanish–American War
From Key West, Wood commanded ''Du Pont'' in patrol duties and operations as a dispatch vessel. On 22 April 1898, she accompanied the fleet to
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
for operations during the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (cloc ...
, which had broken out that month. Under his command, ''Du Pont'' was part of the
blockade
A blockade is the act of actively preventing a country or region from receiving or sending out food, supplies, weapons, or communications, and sometimes people, by military force.
A blockade differs from an embargo or sanction, which are leg ...
of
Matanzas, Cuba, until 7 May 1898, exchanging fire with
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
forts there on 6 May 1898; carried dispatches on 16 May 1898 from Key West to Rear Admiral
William T. Sampson
William Thomas Sampson (February 9, 1840 – May 6, 1902) was a United States Navy rear admiral known for his victory in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish–American War.
Biography
He was born in Palmyra, New York, and entered ...
, commander of the North Atlantic Squadron, in the
Old Bahama Channel
The Old Bahama Channel ( es, Canal Viejo de Bahama) is a strait of the Caribbean region, between Cuba and the Bahamas.
Geography
The strait/channel is located off the Atlantic coast of north-central and northeastern mainland and the Sabana-Camag ...
; carried dispatches from Key West on 20 May 1898 to
Commodore
Commodore may refer to:
Ranks
* Commodore (rank), a naval rank
** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom
** Commodore (United States)
** Commodore (Canada)
** Commodore (Finland)
** Commodore (Germany) or ''Kommodore''
* Air commodore ...
Winfield Schley
Winfield Scott Schley (9 October 1839 – 2 October 1911) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy and the hero of the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish–American War.
Biography
Early life
Born at "Richfields" (his father's fa ...
, commander of the
Flying Squadron, off
Cienfuegos, Cuba; accompanied ships carrying
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
forces from the United States to southern Cuba and thereafter patrolled off
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second-largest city in Cuba and the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province. It lies in the southeastern area of the island, some southeast of the Cuban capital of Havana.
The municipality extends over , and contains ...
and carried out dispatch duty along the south coast of Cuba; and carried Sampsons dispatch announcing the American victory in the
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba was a decisive naval engagement that occurred on July 3, 1898 between an American fleet, led by William T. Sampson and Winfield Scott Schley, against a Spanish fleet led by Pascual Cervera y Topete, which occurre ...
on 3 July 1898 to
Siboney, Cuba, for transmission to the United States. She departed Cuban waters for New York City on 3 August 1898, shortly before the end of the war.
1898–1917
After turning ''Du Pont'' over to the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport in the autumn of 1898, Wood reported for duty aboard the
battleship . He remained aboard her until 12 October 1899, then transferred to the armored cruiser and journeyed aboard her to
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
in the
Philippine Islands
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 ...
, where she arrived in December 1899. On 11 February 1900, he became flag secretary to the commander of the
Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century. It was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded. Vessels of the squadron were primarily inv ...
, Rear Admiral
John C. Watson
John Crittenden Watson (24 August 1842 – 14 December 1923) was an admiral of the United States Navy.
Biography
Watson was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, on 24 August 1842, the grandson of Kentucky politician John J. Crittenden. He graduated from ...
. In April 1900, he transferred to the protected cruiser and traveled in her back to the United States, where he was relieved of his flag secretary duties on 30 April 1900. On 26 September 1900, he transferred from ''Baltimore'' to duty as assistant to the
lighthouse inspector in the Third District.
On 20 January 1902, Wood reported for duty aboard the protected cruiser , and by the beginning of 1904 he had transferred to the protected cruiser . Leaving that duty in October 1904, he became aide to
Admiral of the Navy
Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet ...
George Dewey
George Dewey (December 26, 1837January 16, 1917) was Admiral of the Navy, the only person in United States history to have attained that rank. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War, with ...
on 20 October 1904, and served in that capacity until 1908.
[Naval History and Heritage Command: Papers of Rear Admiral Spencer S. Wood, 1882–1940](_blank)
/ref> He took command of the armored cruiser USS ''New York'' on 1 April 1908 and, after leaving her in March 1910, became a member and the secretary of the General Board of the United States Navy
The General Board of the United States Navy was an advisory body of the United States Navy, somewhat akin to a naval general staff and somewhat not. The General Board was established by general order 544, issued on March 13, 1900 by Secretary ...
on 5 March 1910. In 1912, he was the plaintiff in a case before the United States Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...
, ''Spencer Wood v. United States'', over pay he believed was owed to him while serving as Deweys aide; the court ruled against him on 1 April 1912.
Wood took command of the battleship on 20 February 1912. After leaving her in January 1914, he attended the Naval War College
The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associ ...
, from which he graduated in late 1914. He again became a member of the General Board of the United States Navy on 28 December 1914, serving in that capacity until 1917.
World War I
After the United States entered World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
in April 1917, Wood became the second commanding officer of the battleship in the United States Atlantic Fleet
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
on 6 June 1917. On 24 December 1917, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels announced the promotion of twelve captains to a temporary rank of rear admiral for World War I service, and Wood was among them. He remained aboard ''Oklahoma'' until 1 February 1918, involved primarily in the training of her crew and a refit of the ship, and received the Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...
for "exceptionally meritorious service" while in command of her. After leaving ''Oklahoma'', he was commandant of the First Naval District through the end of the war in November 1918 and into 1919.
Later career
During his tour in the First Naval District, the Second Naval District was abolished on 15 March 1919 and his First Naval District split the defunct districts responsibilities with the Third Naval District. At the time, the Newport sex scandal involving homosexual contact between U.S. Navy personnel of the former Second Naval District and civilians in Newport, Rhode Island, had arisen, and he ordered a thorough investigation of the situation.
In April 1919, Wood became the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor ...
s Cruiser Division 1 with the protected cruiser USS ''Chicago'' as his flagship, and in 1920 and 1921 he commanded the division during its deployment to waters off Honduras to protect American interests there.
Wood retired from the Navy on 19 December 1921.
Personal life
Wood married the former Margaretta Fryer (1872–1938) in June 1895. They were survived by two daughters, Margaretta Wood (Potter) and Anne Elizabeth Wood, who married the newspaper, radio, and television journalist Joseph C. Harsch
Joseph C. Harsch (May 25, 1905 – June 3, 1998) was an American newspaper, radio, and television journalist. He spent more than sixty years writing for the ''Christian Science Monitor'' and at the time of his departure from his stationing i ...
in 1932. Margaretta Wood was a longtime confidante of the American naval spy Commander Hugo W. Koehler (1886–1941), step father of United States Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
Claiborne Pell
Claiborne de Borda Pell (November 22, 1918 – January 1, 2009) was an American politician and writer who served as a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island for six terms from 1961 to 1997. He was the sponsor of the 1972 bill that reformed the Basic ...
(D-RI). At the time of her death in 1985, she had been working on research for a biography
A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or ...
of Koehler at Pell's behest. The research was completed by the historian P.J. Capelotti and published in 1991 as ''Our Man in the Crimea: Commander Hugo Koehler and the Russian Civil War''
In 1921, Wood bought the John Stoddert Haw House in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. After his death, it passed to Anne Elizabeth Wood Harsch in 1941.
He was buried with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
, Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county ...
.
Commemoration
In 1918, U.S. Navy Chief Yeoman
Yeoman is a noun originally referring either to one who owns and cultivates land or to the middle ranks of servants in an English royal or noble household. The term was first documented in mid-14th-century England. The 14th century also witn ...
(F) Daisy May Pratt Erd, USNRF, stationed at First Naval District headquarters under Woods command, published a song, the "Rear Admiral Wood One-Step," she had composed in Woods honor. She contributed all profits from sales of the sheet music to the Navy Relief Society
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is an American non-profit organization that was founded in 1904. The society was created "to provide, in partnership with the United States Navy, Navy and United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, f ...
.Naval History and Heritage Command: Chief Yeoman (F) Daisy May Pratt Erd, USNRF (in service, circa 1917–19)
/ref>
Woods papers are held at the U.S. Navys Naval History and Heritage Command.
Gallery
File:LT Spencer S. Wood.jpg, Wood as a lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
while in command of the torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of ...
, 1897–1898.
File:Officers of USS Chicago ca. 1903 (NH 104851).jpg, Wood as a lieutenant, seated on the deck in the front row on the right in this photograph of the officers of the protected cruiser , ca. 1903.
File:USN Lieutenant Commander Spencer S. Wood.jpg, Wood as a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding ran ...
in the early 20th century.
File:Rear Admiral Wood one-step.jpg, Cover sheet for the "Rear Admiral Wood One-Step," ca. 1918.
File:USS O-1 christening.jpg, Wood (in white uniform at lower left) attends the christening of the submarine , 9 July 1918.
File:Fourteen Retired Flag Officers.jpg, Wood is second from left in the middle row of this photograph of retired flag officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark the position from which the officer exercises command.
The term is used differently in different countries:
*In many countries ...
s, ca. 1923.
File:Retired USN admirals 7 August 1928.jpg, Wood is standing farthest on the right in this 7 August 1928 photograph of retired U.S. Navy rear admirals and other retirees at Woods home in Jamestown, Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...
.
Notes
References
Naval History and Heritage Command: Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–1900.
Hamersly, Lewis Randolph. ''The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, Seventh Edition'', New York: L. R. Hamersly Company, 1902.
External links
United States Supreme Court decision in 224 U.S. 132 ''Spencer Wood v. United States''
*
at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wood, Spencer S.
1861 births
1940 deaths
People from Brooklyn
United States Naval Academy alumni
Naval War College alumni
United States Navy admirals
American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
United States Navy personnel of World War I
Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery