Walter C. Cowles

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Walter C. Cowles
Walter Cleveland Cowles.JPG
Admiral Walter C. Cowles
BornJuly 11, 1853
Farmington, Connecticut
DiedNovember 27, 1917(1917-11-27) (aged 64)
Redlands, California
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1873-1915
RankUS-O10 insignia.svg Admiral
Commands heldU.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[]

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 Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet
1913–January 1914
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet
3 May 1914–9 July 1915
Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""