Henry Braid Wilson

Henry Braid Wilson, Jr. (23 February 1861 – 30 January 1954) was an Admiral in the United States Navy during World War I.

Biography

Henry Wilson was a native of Camden, New Jersey. He joined the United States Navy in the latter part of the nineteenth century and continued to serve for over forty years. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1881, His assignments included duties as Commanding Officer of the USS North Dakota, Inspector, Senior Inspector and President of the Board of Inspection and Survey from November 1913 until May 1916, and Commanding Officer of the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) in 1916.

During World War I, he served as Commander, Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet and then Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, France. After the World War he served as Commander-In-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet 1919-1921, Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Battle Fleet and later Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy 1921-1925, two notable students of his at the academy were cadets and future Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, class of 1922, and Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, class of 1923. Admiral Wilson retired in 1925, following forty-four years of service.

Admiral Wilson died in 1954 in New York City, at the time of his death he was the oldest living admiral of the United States Navy.

Admiral Wilson's son-in-law was Hoover Administration United States Secretary of War Patrick J. Hurley.

Medals and commendations

Namesake and honors

• USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7), a guided missile destroyer, was named for him.

• A portion of U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey passing through Camden, New Jersey, Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

References

• History of the Fleet Forces Command, formerly the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
• Arlingtoncemetery.net entry
• Camden People - Admiral Henry Braid Wilson Jr.
• short bio from DANFS
• DANFS History of U.S.S. Pennsylvania BB-38
• INSERV Presidents [1]
• Henry Braid Wilson at Find a Grave