Nathan Crook Twining

Nathan Crook Twining
Born January 17, 1869
Boscobel, Wisconsin
Died July 4, 1924 (aged 55)
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 18851923
Rank Rear Admiral
Commands held Tacoma
Battles/wars Spanish–American War
Occupation of Veracruz
World War I
Relations Merrill B. Twining & Nathan Farragut Twining (nephews)

Nathan Crook Twining (17 January 1869 4 July 1924) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy.

Biography

Twining was born in Boscobel, Wisconsin on January 17, 1869. He was appointed a naval cadet in 1885 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy on 7 June 1889. During the Spanish–American War, he served in Iowa (BB-4) in Cuban waters and later was executive officer of Kearsarge (BB-5) when that ship circumnavigated the globe with the Great White Fleet. He commanded Tacoma (C-18) during the bombardment of Veracruz, Mexico in 1914. During World War I, he served as Chief of Staff for Admiral William Sims, Commander of Naval Forces in European waters, and was also a member of the Allied War Council. Rear Admiral Twining retired early in 1923.[1] He died on July 4, 1924 in Nantucket, Massachusetts.[2]

In 1911 all the world's navies were concerned about the threat of airships bombarding warship. To counter this threat, Twining developed the US Navy's first anti-aircraft cannon to counter the airship threat. The prototype was a 1 pounder and while not placed in production, was used as the concept for the upscale 3 inch anti-aircraft cannon mounted on most US warships during World War I.[3]

Family

Twining was the uncle of United States Air Force General Nathan F. Twining, and United States Marine Corps General Merrill B. Twining. Rear Adm. Twining was married to Caroline Twining. Caroline died October 14, 1943, and is buried next to her husband.

Honors

In 1943, the destroyer USS Twining (DD-540) was named in his honor.

References

  1. "Twining Quits Naval Berth. Admiral's Retirement Due to Ill Health. Other Changes Provided in New Orders. Battle Fleet Chaplains to be Switched". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-23. Rear Admiral Nathan Crook Twining, chief-of-staff of the Pacific Fleet under Amiral Hugh Rodman and one of the most brilliant officers in the service, has boen ordered home and relieved of all active duty by recent naval orders.
  2. "Twining". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  3. "New American Aerial Weapons" Popular Mechanics, December 1911, p. 776.

External links