Eugene H. C. Leutze

Eugene Henry Cozzens Leutze (16 November 1847 – 1 September 1931) was an admiral of the United States Navy.

Eugene Leutze, son of Emanuel Leutze (1816–1868), the noted painter of American Revolutionary War scenes, was born in Düsseldorf, Prussia, 16 November 1847. Appointed to the United States Naval Academy by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, he witnessed part of the Civil War on board blockade ship "Monticello" the following summer.

His early career brought Leutze various surveying assignments, especially in Central America. In 1897, as commanding officer of "Alert", he helped promote the peace when representatives from Costa Rica and Nicaragua met and signed a treaty of peace aboard his ship. As captain of "Monterey" during the Spanish-American War, he sailed to reinforce Adm. George Dewey’s fleet at Manila, and was present when the city capitulated.

A fine administrator, he was promoted to rear admiral in 1907 while Superintendent of the Naval Gun Factory and Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. Adm. Leutze ended his active career as Commandant of both the 3rd Naval District and the New York Navy Yard on 6 June 1912. He died at Brooklyn Naval Hospital 1 September 1931.

Namesake

In 1942, the destroyer USS "Leutze" (DD-481) was named in his honor.

References

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