- James Harrison Oliver
James Harrison Oliver (1857–
April 6 1928 ) was aRear Admiral and member of theNaval Board of Strategy duringWorld War I . He was also the first militaryGovernor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1917 to 1919. He was often referred to as J. H. Oliver.Oliver was born in
Houston County, Georgia . He graduated fromWashington and Lee University in 1872 and theUnited States Naval Academy in 1877. In 1893, he moved toShirley Plantation inCharles City, Virginia and married; this would remain his home, while not serving in the Navy, for the remainder of his life.Resignation from the Navy
In 1904, while a
Lieutenant Commander commanding the USS "Culgoa", his ship was involved in a collision with aschooner inDelaware Bay which resulted in the deaths of 29 crewmembers of the schooner. He was arrested and to becourt martialed , but the trial was delayed for more than a year while he remained in command of his ship-- despite being technically under arrest. (In Navy tradition, he had also been stripped of his sword-- a humiliation.) He was subsequently acquitted "with honor". At the ceremony officially returning his sword to him, he broke the sword and threw it into the ocean and immediately resigned from the Navy. While retired, he was briefly appointed as the inspector of the Fourteenth lighthouse district inCincinnati, Ohio . In 1906, PresidentTheodore Roosevelt formally reinstated his commission, reportedly saying (with respect to his resignation) "I'd have done the same thing myself." When reinstated, he was simultaneously promoted toCommander .He was promoted to
Captain in 1910 and Rear Admiral in 1916, just prior to the United States entrance intoWorld War I . He was subsequently elevated toChief of Naval Intelligence by 1917.Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
On
March 28 1917 , he was appointed as Governor of the United States Virgin Islands by PresidentWoodrow Wilson . (Edwin Taylor Pollock was made acting-Governor until his arrival.) He remained as Governor for two years, until 1919.Oliver was quickly granted a loan of $200,000 ($3.4 million, adjusted for inflation) by the government of the United States for expenses relating to the occupation, including the building of fortifications on the island and the stationing of troops. Being disappointed with the quality of native educators, he also requested that additional instructors be sent from the mainland.
From 1919 until the end of the war, Oliver served on the
Naval Board of Strategy . Oliver retired from the Navy in January 1921. He died of heart disease in 1928 at his home in Virginia.References
*Orders to Naval Officers. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Jul 27, 1905. pg. 7, 1 pgs - "Announcing his retirement / resignation."
*ORDERS TO NAVAL OFFICERS. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Sep 23, 1905. pg. 4, 1 pgs - "Appointment as inspector, listed as retired."
*ARMY ORDERS. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Aug 7, 1906. pg. 3, 1 pgs - "Appointment as Commander"
*OLIVER TO GOVERN OUR NEW ISLANDS. Special to The New York Times. New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Mar 29, 1917. pg. 12, 1 pgs
*RNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE NATIVES. Current Opinion. New York: Feb 1918. Vol.VOL. LXIV, Iss. No. 2; pg. 152, 2 pgs
*$200,000 FOR VIRGIN ISLANDS.; Wilson Authorizes Gov. Oliver to Spend Sum "in His Discretion." The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Jul 28, 1918. pg. ES4, 1 pgs
*ADMIRAL J.H. OLIVER IS DEAD IN VIRGINIA. New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Apr 7, 1928. pg. 11, 1 pgs
*Admiral Oliver, Who Broke Sword and Resigned, Dies. Special to The Washington Post. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Apr 7, 1928. pg. 1, 2 pgs
*Oliver Laid To Rest While Guns Salute. The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Ga.: Apr 8, 1928. pg. 17A, 1 pgsExternal links
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