Robert F. Lopez

Robert Files Lopez (1859—September 20,1936) was an officer in the United States Navy. [http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=FB0F15FC3D5D1B7B93C3A9178BD95F428385F9 "Commodore Lopez, 77, Manila Veteran, Dies; Former Commandant of Mare Island Retired in 1911; Served in World War,"] "New York Times." October 1, 1936. p. 25.] He entered Annapolis with the Class of 1879, and he became the first Hispanic-American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy.

The highlight of his 32-year naval career, was his service under Admiral Dewey's command at the first major engagement of the Spanish-American War, the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. [see above] ]

Captain Lopez's last posting before retirement was as senior member of a naval board which conducted a general survey of vessels on the Pacific coast. He retired as a Commodore (Rear Admiral) in 1911. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F03E3DF1131E233A25757C0A9619C946096D6CF&oref=slogin "Navy Board Retires Fourteen Officers; Some Well Worth Keeping in Service, but Must Make Way for Younger Men.",] "The New York Times." July 4, 1911. p. 13.]

Upon America's entry into World War I in 1917, Lopez was recalled to duty as acting commandant of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, located northeast of San Francisco. [see above] ]

Commodore Lopez died in Alameda, California after a year's illness at the age of 77. [see above] ]

Notes

References

* [http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=FB0F15FC3D5D1B7B93C3A9178BD95F428385F9 "Commodore Lopez, 77, Manila Veteran, Dies; Former Commandant of Mare Island Retired in 1911; Served in World War,"] "New York Times." October 1, 1936.
* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F03E3DF1131E233A25757C0A9619C946096D6CF&oref=slogin "Navy Board Retires Fourteen Officers; Some Well Worth Keeping in Service, but Must Make Way for Younger Men.",] "New York Times." July 4, 1911.