USS Thomas (1894)

The USS "Thomas" was launched as the "Persia " in 1894, having been built for the Hamburg America Line's service to New York. She was bought by the Atlantic Transport Line in 1897 because she was "practically a sister" to other Massachusetts class of ships already in service there. She was renamed "Minnewska" by her new owners. The following year, 1898, she was one of six Atlantic Transport Line ships requisitioned by the U. S. Government for service as transports during the Spanish-American War. She was purchased by the government for $660,000 on July 26, 1898, and renamed "Thomas" after General George Henry Thomas, a hero of the Civil War Battle of Chickamauga.

The "Thomas" is best known as having transported a group of 540 American teachers and some of their family members to initiate a new era of public education in the Philippines in August of 1901. That group and other educators later transported on other ships became known as the Thomasites, having gotten that name from the "Thomas". The Peace Corps tradition was arguably started by these educators.

For other ships of this name, see USS "Thomas".

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/jckinghorn/ATL/content/23Minnewaska.htm S.S. Minnewska (I)] (later renamed the "Thomas")