Charles Stockton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charles Herbert Stockton (Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 13 October 1845 - died in Washington, D.C., 31 May 1924) was a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Navy's first uniformed expert in International Law.

Contents 1 Early Life and Education 2 Naval Career 3 Civilian Career 4 Bibliographical References

[edit] Early Life and Education

The son of Rev'd William Stcokton and his wife, Emma Goss Stockton, Charles Stockton was educated at Germantown Academy and Freeland Academy before entering the U.S. Naval Academy, then temporarily located at Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from the Academy in 1865.

[edit] Naval Career

Stockton served on the North Pacific Station, 1865-69, then in USS Brooklyn (1858), flagship of the European Squadron, 1870-73. After instruction at the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1873, he had a variety of ship and shore duties relating to that area, served at the Hydrographic Office, 1875-76, and lectured at the Naval War College, 1887-88. In 1890-91, he commanded USS Thetis, the first vessel to follow the entire coastline of Alaska, and published an article (1890) on this cruise in the new National Geographic Magazine as well as technical papers on Bering Strait ice conditions, before cruising off El Salvador and Guatemala during the 1890 war. In 1891, he took charge of the Naval War College and supervised construction of its first, purpose-built building, Luce Hall. In 1892-93, he handed the completed building over to its returning president, Alfred Thayer Mahan, and became the College’s lecturer in International Law, completing Harvard Professor Freeman Snow’s unfinished book on the subject in 1895. After commanding USS Yorktown (1888) on the Asiatic Station, 1895-97, he returned to become President, Naval War College, 1898-1900. Recognized as the U.S. Navy’s first uniformed expert on international law, he remained at the College until 1901 to write the first code of Law of Naval Warfare. He commanded the battleship USS Kentucky (BB-6), 1901-03, and served as U.S. naval attaché in London, 1903-05.

[edit] Civilian Career

Stockton retired as a serving naval officer in 1907, and, in 1908-09, was appointed as First U.S. Delegate to the London Naval Conference that resulted in the London Declaration concerning the Laws of Naval War. Upon his return from London, he became President, The George Washington University, 1910-1918. On stepping down from that post, Stockton continued as lecturer in International Law at The George Washington University until 1921. He is commemorated in Stockton Hall at The George Washington University and in the academic chair occupied by the Charles H. Stockton Professor of International Law at the U.S. Naval War College.

[edit] Bibliographical References

• Hattendorf, John B. “Rear Admiral Charles Stockton, The Naval War College and the Law of Naval Warfare” in Green, Leslie C., and Schmitt, Michael N., eds. The Law of Armed Conflict: Into the Next Millennium. International Law Blue Book series, vol. 71. [Newport: Naval War College Press, 1998), pp. xvii-lxxii.

• [Stockton, Charles H.], The Laws and Usages of War at Sea: A Naval War Code. (Washington; Government Printing Office, 1900).

• Stockton, Charles H., A Manual of International Law for the Use of Naval Officers. (Annapolis: Naval Institute 1917).

• Stockton, Charles H. “Address of Mr. Charles Stockton” [A Review of the London Naval Conference, 1908-09], American Society of International Law, Proceedings. (Washington, 1909), pp. 61-84.