Henry Braid Wilson, Jr. (23 February 1861 – 30 January 1954) was an

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

in the

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during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Biography

Wilson was a native of

Camden, New Jersey Camden is a City (New Jersey), city in Camden County, New Jersey, Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan region. The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828.Snyder, John P''The Story of ...

. He joined the United States Navy in the latter part of the nineteenth century and continued to serve for over forty years. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1881, His assignments included duties as commanding officer of the ,

inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia The rank of Inspector is present in all Australian police forces excep ...

senior inspector Senior inspector, also police senior inspector or senior inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Bosnia In Bosnia's Police of Republika Srpska, senior inspecto ...

and president of the

Board of Inspection and Survey The Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) is a United States Navy organization whose purpose is to inspect and assess the material condition of U.S. Navy vessels. The Board is currently headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virg ...

from November 1913 until May 1916, and commanding officer of the in 1916. During

, he served as commander, Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet and then commander, U.S. Naval Forces,

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. After the World War he served as Commander-In-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet 1919–1921, Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Battle Fleet and later superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy 1921–1925. Two notable students of his at the academy were cadets and future Admiral

Hyman G. Rickover Hyman G. Rickover (27 January 1900 – 8 July 1986) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of the U.S. Naval Reacto ...

, class of 1922, and Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, class of 1923. Wilson retired in 1925, following forty-four years of service. Wilson died in 1954 in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

; at the time of his death he was the oldest living admiral of the U.S. Navy. He was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

. Wilson's son-in-law was

Hoover Administration Herbert Hoover's tenure as the 31st president of the United States began on his inauguration on March 4, 1929, and ended on March 4, 1933. Hoover, a Republican, took office after a landslide victory in the 1928 presidential election over Dem ...

Secretary of War The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...

and Major General

Patrick J. Hurley Patrick Jay Hurley (January 8, 1883July 30, 1963) was an American attorney, Republican Party politician, military officer, and diplomat. He was the 51st United States Secretary of War from 1929 to 1933 in the cabinet of Herbert Hoover and a ke ...

Medals and commendations

Namesake and honors

*, a guided missile destroyer, was named for him. *A portion of U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey passing through

is named Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

References

History of the Fleet Forces Command, formerly the U.S. Atlantic FleetCamdenHistory.com - Admiral Henry B. Wilson Jr.
*INSERV President

*US Navy Biography of Admiral Henry B. Wilso

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Henry B. 1861 births 1954 deaths Military personnel from Camden, New Jersey United States Naval Academy alumni American military personnel of the Spanish–American War United States Navy World War I admirals United States Navy admirals Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Superintendents of the United States Naval Academy Burials at Arlington National Cemetery