Admiral Samuel Shelburne Robison CB, USN (May 10, 1867 – November 20, 1952) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

officer whose service extended from the 1890s through the early 1930s. He held several major commands during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and from 1928 to 1931 served as Superintendent of the

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

. In 1933, Admiral Robison also founded a Naval Preparatory Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey called

Admiral Farragut Academy Admiral Farragut Academy, established in 1933, is a private, College-preparatory school, college-preparatory school serving students in grades K–12, K-12. Farragut is located in St. Petersburg, Florida in Pinellas County and is surrounded by t ...

Early life and career

Robison was born on May 10, 1867, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. He entered the

on September 4, 1884. After finishing his academic studies at

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he served the two years at sea as a passed naval cadet in on the Asiatic Station and was commissioned ensign July 1, 1890. In 1891 he was transferred to , still on the Asiatic Station; and, from 1893, he served in USS ''Thetis'' until ordered to the

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in 1895. In 1896 he returned to the Asiatic Station in ''Boston''. In August 1899 he was assigned to the League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He joined ''

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'' (BB-8) September 15, 1900, and two years later was transferred to '' Hull'' (DD-7), a torpedo boat destroyer. From September 1904 to July 1906, he served with the Bureau of Equipment at Washington, D.C., then he returned to sea, serving first in ''

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'' (CA-10) and later in ''

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'' (ACR-4). After a tour of duty in the Bureau of Engineering, he assumed command of ''

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'' (C-7), a unit of the Asiatic Fleet, on October 25, 1911. Upon his return to the United States in April 1914, he became commanding officer of . He held the rank of captain from July 1, 1914, and he remained with ''Jupiter'' until August 8.

World War I service

On October 12, 1915, he assumed command of and held that post until after the United States entered World War I. From July 1917 until September 1918, he commanded the Atlantic Submarine Force with additional duty as General Supervisor of all commissioned submarines in the Navy. For this duty he was awarded the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's 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 equivalent to the Army ...

. He was also made an Honorary Companion of the

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for service to the British during the war. In October 1918 he assumed command of Squadron 3, Patrol Force, and during the next month had additional duty as District Commander,

Brest, France Brest (; ) is a port, port city in the Finistère department, Brittany (administrative region), Brittany. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of a peninsula and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an impor ...

. In November, he was appointed U.S. Naval Representative on the Commission for executing the Naval Terms of the Armistice with Germany. After his return to the United States in March 1919, he commanded the

Boston Navy Yard The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. It was established in 1801 as part of the recent establishment of t ...

. In May 1921, he was sent to

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as Military Governor, serving until October 1922, when Santo Domingo was turned back over to civilian control.

Post-war service and retirement

A member of the General Board of the Navy from December 1922 until June 1923, he was appointed Commander in Chief, Battle Fleet, with the rank of

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many 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. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

, from June 30, 1923. With USS ''Seattle'' (ACR-11) as his flagship, he commanded the United States Fleet during the year commencing August 1925. He then became Commandant of the 13th Naval District with the permanent rank of rear admiral. From June 16, 1928, until his retirement in June 1931, he served as Superintendent of the Naval Academy. For a number of years after his retirement, Admiral Robison was Superintendent of the

, Toms River. He died in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, Glendale ha ...

, on November 20, 1952.

Publications

*''A History of naval tactics from 1530-1930 : the evolution of tactical maxims'', by Samuel Shelburne Robison and Mary Louise Robison, pub U.S. Naval Institute, 1942. *''Manual of wireless telegraphy for the use of naval electricians'', by Samuel Shelburne Robison et al, pub United States Navy Department, Bureau of Equipment, 1906, 1909, 1911, 1915.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robison, Samuel S. 1867 births 1952 deaths United States Navy personnel of World War I Honorary companions of the Order of the Bath Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) People from Juniata County, Pennsylvania United States submarine commanders United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy admirals Superintendents of the United States Naval Academy Military personnel from Pennsylvania

Early life and career

World War I service

Post-war service and retirement

Publications

See also

References