Thomas B. Howard

Infobox Military Person
name=Thomas Benton Howard
lived=August 10, 1854 - November 10, 1920


caption=Admiral Thomas Benton Howard
nickname=
placeofbirth=Illinois
placeofdeath=
allegiance=
branch=U.S. Navy
serviceyears=1873-1916
rank=Admiral
unit=
commands=U.S. Pacific Fleet
battles=
awards=
relations=
laterwork=Admiral Thomas Benton Howard (August 10, 1854 - November 10, 1920) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He served as commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet prior to United States entry into World War I.

Born in Illinois, Howard received an at-large appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1873. During his career he served under George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay and successively commanded USS "Chesapeake", USS "Nevada", USS "Olympia", USS "Tennessee", and USS "Ohio" (BB-12). As captain of USS "Ohio", he sailed around the world with the Great White Fleet in 1908-1909.

In January 1914, Howard was appointed commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. In 1915, he became the fifth full admiral in the history of the U.S. Navy when the three commanders in chief of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Asiatic Fleets were each advanced to the temporary rank of full admiral. Upon relinquishing command of the Pacific Fleet in September 1915, Howard reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral.

Howard retired on August 10, 1916. He was Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory from March 31, 1917 to March 4, 1919. He died in Annapolis on November 10, 1920.

Dates of rank

*Midshipman - May 1873
*Ensign - July 1874
*Master - June 1879
*Junior Lieutenant - March 1883
*Lieutenant - November 1885
*Lieutenant-Commander - unknown
*Commander - unknown
*Captain - unknown
*Rear Admiral - unknown
*Admiral - March 1915

References

*citation
first = Estes | last = Donald H.
title = Asama Gunkan: The Reappraisal of a War Scare
journal = Journal of San Diego History
volume = 24
number = 3
date = Summer 1978
url = http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/78summer/asama.htm

*citation
first = Lewis R. | last = Hamersly
title = The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, fifth edition
place = Philadelphia
publisher = L.R. Hamersly & Co.
year = 1894
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=_qoLAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA211&dq=%22thomas+benton+howard%22#PPA211,M1

*citation
first = Dean R. | last = Heaton
title = Four Stars: The Super Stars of United States Military History
place = Baltimore
publisher = Gateway Press
year = 1995

* [http://www.greatwhitefleet.info/GWF_Crew_Photos.html The Captains of the Great White Fleet]