Walter C. Cowles

Not to be confused with William S. Cowles.

Walter C. Cowles
Admiral Walter C. Cowles
Born	July 11, 1853 Farmington, Connecticut
Died	November 27, 1917(1917-11-27) (aged 64) Redlands, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1873-1915
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Asiatic Fleet

Admiral Walter Cleveland Cowles (July 11, 1853 – November 27, 1917) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He served as commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and commander in chief of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet.

Biography

Born in Connecticut, Cowles entered the U.S. Naval Academy at the age of sixteen, graduating in 1873. As captain of USS Kentucky (BB-6), he sailed around the world with the Great White Fleet in 1908-1909. He commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1913 to 1914 and the U.S. Asiatic Fleet from 1914 to 1915.

In March 1915, Cowles became one of the first full admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy when the three commanders in chief of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Asiatic Fleets were all advanced to the temporary rank of full admiral while so serving. Upon relinquishing command of the Asiatic Fleet in June 1915, Cowles reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral.

Cowles retired in August 1915. He died in Redlands, California on November 27, 1917.

Dates of rank

Midshipman - May 1873
Ensign - July 1874
Master - August 1879
Junior Lieutenant - March 1883
Lieutenant - December 1885
Lieutenant-Commander - unknown
Commander - unknown
Captain - unknown
Rear Admiral - 1911
Admiral - March 10, 1915

References

Page, Walter Hines; Page, Arthur Wilson (August 1915), "The War Chiefs of the Navy", The World's Work: A History of Our Time (Doubleday, Page & Company) 30

Hamersly, Lewis R. (1894), The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, fifth edition, Philadelphia: L.R. Hamersly & Co.

Heaton, Dean R. (1995), Four Stars: The Super Stars of United States Military History, Baltimore: Gateway Press
The Captains of the Great White Fleet

Military offices
Preceded by William H.H. Southerland	Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet 1913–January 1914	Succeeded by Thomas B. Howard
Preceded by Reginald F. Nicholson	Commander-in-Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet 3 May 1914–9 July 1915	Succeeded by Albert G. Winterhalter

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