Martin Edward Trench (November 30, 1869 – January 6, 1927) was a

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

and

Governor of the United States Virgin Islands The governor of the United States Virgin Islands is the head of government of the United States Virgin Islands whose responsibilities also include making the annual State of the Territory addresses to the Virgin Islands Legislature, submitting ...

from 1925 until his death in 1927. He is the first Governor of the territory to have died while in office. Born the son of an immigrant farmer from Ireland in

Dennison, Minnesota Dennison is a city in Goodhue and Rice counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 212 at the 2010 census. Most of Dennison is in Goodhue County, with only a small part that extends into Rice County. History A post office call ...

, he graduated from the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

in 1893. He first served in the

Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...

. 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 ...

, he commanded . On September 12, 1925, he was sworn in as the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. He died in

Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...

while spending the holidays with a friend away from the Islands. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery outside of Washington, DC.

References

* "New Virgin Islands Governor Sworn In." Associated Press. ''The Washington Post''. Washington, D.C.: Sep 13, 1925. pg. 18, 1 pgs * "VIRGIN ISLES' GOVERNOR, CAPT. TRENCH, IS DEAD." ''The Washington Post''. Washington, D.C.: Jan 7, 1927. pg. 10, 1 pgs

External links

1869 births 1927 deaths People from Dennison, Minnesota United States Naval Academy alumni Military personnel from Minnesota Governors of the United States Virgin Islands United States Navy officers Burials at Arlington National Cemetery {{USVirginIslands-politician-stub