European Squadron

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European Squadron
USS Franklin (1864).jpg
USS Franklin – squadron flagship from 1867 to 1868
Active1865–1905
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg United States Navy
Type Naval squadron

The European Squadron, also known as the European Station, was a part of the United States Navy in the late 19th century and the early 1900s. The squadron was originally named the Mediterranean Squadron and renamed following the American Civil War. In 1905, the squadron was absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet. [1]

Contents

Second Anglo-Egyptian War

United States Marines and Royal Marines during the occupation of Alexandria in 1882. US and Royal Marines 1882 Egypt.jpg
United States Marines and Royal Marines during the occupation of Alexandria in 1882.

The Egyptian Expedition in June and July 1882 was a response by the United States to the British and French attack on Alexandria during the Anglo-Egyptian War. To protect American citizens and their property within the city, ships of the European Squadron, under Rear Admiral James Nicholson, were sent to Egypt with orders to observe the conflict ashore and make a landing if necessary. British and French forces heavily damaged the city and started a large fire so a force of marines and sailors were landed and they assisted in fire fighting and guarding the American consulate from insurgents. [2] Casper F. Goodrich, who served as an executive officer on the USS Lancaster, commanded the landing party and would later publish an extensive report on the bombardment. [3]

Early 20th century

The European Squadron returned to U.S. waters at the start of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, and did not return to Europe until July 1901, when Admiral Bartlett J. Cromwell was placed in command with the cruiser USS Chicago as flagship. Other ships of the squadron from July 1901 included the cruiser USS Albany and the gunboat USS Nashville. [4]

Commanders

NamePictureRankAssigned
(Orders)
Assumed
(On Station)
Relieved
(Orders)
Relieved
(On Station)
Flagship(s)
RADM Louis M. Goldsborough Louis-Malesherbes-Goldsborough.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg February 186518 July 1865 [5] 186714 July 1867 [5] Colorado [6]
ADM David G. Farragut Admiral Farragut2.jpg US-O10 insignia.svg ?14 July 1867 [5] ?10 November 1868 [5] Franklin [7]
CDRE Alexander M. Pennock US-O7 insignia.svg ?10 November 1868 [5] ?28 February 1869 [5] Ticonderoga [8]
RADM William Radford [9] WilliamRadfordDaguerrotype.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg ?1869 [9] ?1 March 1870 [9] Franklin [7]
RADM Oliver S. Glisson [8] RearAdmiralOliverSGlisson.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg ?August 1870 [8] ?January 1871 [8] Franklin [8]
RADM Charles S. Boggs [8] Charles Boggs.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg ?January 1871 [8] ?1 January 1872Franklin
Plymouth
Brooklyn [8]
RADM James Alden Jr. James Alden noaa.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg ?1 January 1872 [10] ?2 June 1873 [10] Wabash [11]
Brooklyn [8]
RADM Augustus Case US-O8 insignia.svg ?1873 [12] ?1875 [12] Franklin
Wabash [8]
RADM John L. Worden John Lorimer Worden - Mathew Brady - left photograph.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg ?1875 [13] ?5 October 1877 [8] Franklin
Marion
Trenton [8]
RADM William E. Le Roy [8] WIlliam E. Le Roy.JPG US-O8 insignia.svg ?5 October 1877 [8] ?23 January 1879Trenton [8]
CAPT John Lee Davis
(pro tem) [8]
US-O6 insignia.svg ?23 January 1879 [8] ?February 1879Trenton [8]
RADM John C. Howell [14] John C. Howell.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg 1878February 1879 [8] ?16 September 1881Trenton
Quinnebaug
Wyoming [8]
RADM James W. Nicholson US-O8 insignia.svg ?16 September 1881 [15] February 1883 [15] 10 March 1883 Lancaster [8]
RADM Charles H. Baldwin US-O8 insignia.svg ?10 March 1883 [16] ?September 1884Lancaster [8]
RADM Earl English US-O8 insignia.svg ?September 1884 [8] ?May/June 1885Lancaster [8]
RADM Samuel Rhoads Franklin US-O8 insignia.svg ?May/June 1885 [8] 20 July 1887 [17] 24 August 1887 [18] Pensacola [8]
RADM James A. Greer James A Greer.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg ?1887 [19] ?1889 [19] ?
Unknown???1889?1893?
RADM Henry Erben RADM Henry Erben.JPG US-O8 insignia.svg June 1893 [20] ?August 1894 [20] ? Chicago [21]
RADM William A. Kirkland [22] US-O8 insignia.svg April 1894 [20] November 1895 [20] San Francisco [23]
RADM Thomas O. Selfridge Jr. [24] Photograph of Rear Admiral Thomas O Selfridge Jr.gif US-O8 insignia.svg November 1895 [20] February 1898 [20] Minneapolis [25]
RADM John Adams Howell US-O8 insignia.svg January 1898 [20] April 1898 [20] ?
The European Squadron returned to U.S. waters at the start of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, and did not return until July 1901.
RADM Bartlett J. Cromwell US-O8 insignia.svg ?July 19019 February 1902 [26] 9 February 1902 [27] Chicago [28]
CAPT Joseph E. Craig
(Senior Officer Present) [29]
US-O6 insignia.svg ?9 February 1902?April 1902?
RADM Arent S. Crowninshield Rear Admiral Arent S. Crowninshield.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg March 1902 [26] 30 April 1902 [30] 3 March 1903 [31] 20 March 1903 [32] Illinois [33]
CAPT James Henry Dayton
(Senior Officer Present) [32]
US-O6 insignia.svg ?20 March 1903?28 April 1903?
RADM Charles S. Cotton Rear Admiral Charles Stanhope Cotton.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg ?28 April 1903 [32] ?16 February 1904 Kearsarge
(June–July 1903) [34]
Brooklyn [35]
CAPT Harry Knox
(Senior Officer Present) [36]
Harry Knox, USNA (1867).jpg US-O6 insignia.svg ?16 February 1904?28 March 1904Brooklyn
RADM Joseph Coghlan RADM Joseph Coghlan.JPG US-O8 insignia.svg ???20 April 1904 [36] ?
RADM Theodore Frelinghuysen Jewell Theodore Frelinghuysen Jewell.jpg US-O8 insignia.svg ?20 April 1904 [36] ?? Olympia
In 1905 the European Squadron was absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet.

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References

  1. For a general history of the post Civil War period, see William N. Still Jr., American Sea Power in the Old World: the United States Navy in European and Near Eastern waters, 1865-1917, (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1980).
  2. "USS Nipsic (1879–1913) – Relics and Miscellaneous Views". Naval History & Heritage Command. 2002. Archived from the original on 4 April 2002. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  3. Goodrich, Caspar F. (Caspar Frederick) (1885). Report of the British naval and military operations in Egypt, 1882. The Library of Congress. Washington, Govt. Print. Off.
  4. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36501. London. 8 July 1901. p. 6.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eicher, John H. & Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. California: Stanford University Press. p. 864. ISBN   9780804736411.
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  33. "All Hands". 1960.
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  35. "Squadron's Lisbon Visit: King Charles Inspects the Brooklyn and Toasts the President — Tells Admiral Cotton That He Will Cable His Thanks to Mr. Roosevelt". The New York Times. 2 August 1903. p. 5. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  36. 1 2 3 "Annual Reports of the Navy Department". 1904.