Edward D. Taussig

Edward David Taussig
Captain Taussig probably onboard Massachusetts
Born	(1847-11-20)November 20, 1847 St. Louis, Missouri
Died	January 29, 1921(1921-01-29) (aged 73) Newport, Rhode Island
Place of burial	United States Naval Academy Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1863–1909
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands	Bennington Yorktown Enterprise Independence Massachusetts Indiana Fifth Naval District
Battles / wars	Civil War Spanish–American War Philippine-American War China Relief Expedition World War I
Relations	Vice Admiral Joseph K. Taussig (son); Captain Joseph K. Taussig, Jr. (grandson)

Edward David Taussig (November 20, 1847 – January 29, 1921) was a decorated Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He is best remembered for being the officer to claim Wake Island after the Spanish-American War, as well as accepting the physical relinquishment of Guam by its indigenous governor following the Treaty of Paris in which Spain ceded Guam to the U.S. following nearly 300 years of colonial rule. Taussig briefly served as Governor of Guam. He was the scion of a three-generational family of United States Naval Academy graduates that served from 1863 to 1954 including his son, Vice Admiral Joseph K. Taussig (1877-1947), and grandson Captain Joseph K. Taussig, Jr. (1920-1999).

Biography and early sea- service

Taussig was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of a wool broker, Charles and his wife, Anna (Abeles), who had emigrated from Austria in 1840. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy during the Civil War and entered on July 23, 1863. His education over the next four years included service on the Macedonian. Graduating in June 1867 he served on the steam frigate Minnesota from July to December 1867 and thereafter variously on the Wateree, Powhatan, Onward and Resaca from January 1868 to April 1870. He was commissioned an ensign on 18 December 1868. His early sea service was perhaps most remarkable for his time as a passed midshipman on the gunboat Wateree when a tidal wave washed her far inland at Arica (then part of Peru), on 13 August 1868. He was decorated for his actions during this event.

1870's- 1890's service

Promoted to master on 21 March 1870 and to lieutenant on 1 January 1872, during the 1870s and 1880s, Taussig was stationed at a number of shore stations and ships: Narragansett, Pacific Squadron (October 1870 –September 1873); Newport Torpedo Station, (June-October 1874); Hydrographic Office, Washington, D.C. (October – December 1874); Panama Survey Expedition (January- April 1875); special duty, Bureau of Navigation, Washington, D.C. (May-October 1875); commander, receiving ship Relief, Washington, D.C. (September 1875); Temporary duty assignment Washington Navy Yard (October 1875 – April 1876); Juniata, Baltimore and Norfolk Navy Yard (April – September 1876); training ship Monongahela (September 1876- February 1877); Trenton, flagship of the European Squadron, and Constellation, special service European Station (February 1877 – January 1880); U.S. Naval Academy (June 1880- April 1883); coast survey duty, commanding the survey steamers McArthur and Hassler (May 1883- August 1886); training ship Jamestown (September 1886 – December 1887); and Bureau of Navigation, Washington, D.C. (December 1887- December 1890). During special duty, Navy Department, Washington D.C. (December 1890- April 1894) Taussig was involved in managing the navy’s exhibit at the Columbian Exposition, including the full size mock-up battleship Illinois, where he was executive officer, following his promotion to lieutenant commander on 19 June 1892. Thereafter, his assignments were executive officer, Atlanta, North Atlantic Squadron (April 1894- September 1895); executive officer, receiving ship Richmond, Philadelphia Navy Yard (October 1895- February 1896); executive officer, Monadnock, Pacific Squadron (February – September 1896); Hydrographic Office, Washington, D.C. (September – December 1896); hydrographic inspector, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D.C. (December 1896- August 1897); coast survey steamer Blake (August 1897 – May 1898); and Norfolk Navy Yard (June – July 1898).

Wake Island and Guam

Promoted to the rank of commander on 10 August 1898, his first command was the gunboat Bennington, which departed San Francisco on 18 September bound for Hawaii, Guam and duty with the Asiatic Squadron, in the aftermath of the 12 August 1898 Spanish-American War armistice. Bennington arrived in Hawaii on 27 September 1898 and spent the next three months operating in local waters and conducting surveys, including Pearl Harbor. In December of that year, Taussig was given orders to proceed to Wake Island and claim it for the United States. After ten days passage from Honolulu, he arrived to formally claim the island on 17 January 1899. At one p.m. a flag staff was placed, and with sailors in dress whites forming two ranks, Taussig called all to witness that the island was not in the possession of any other nation and declared it in possession of the United States. Taussig ordered the American flag raised by Ensign Wettengell and Bennington gave a 21 gun salute when the flag reached the truck. At the time, this action (ordered by President William McKinley) was seen as somewhat questionable, however no other nation had claimed the island and there was no native population. Wake Island was primarily taken for its strategic value as a cable station, midway between Hawaii and the Philippines.

Departing from Wake Island at 5:35 p.m. on 17 January 1899, Bennington arrived at Guam on 23 January 1899. The island previously had been captured on 21 June 1898 by Captain Henry Glass of the Charleston who had left Francisco Portusach Martínez, an American civilian, in charge of the territory. Captain Glass is reported to have told Martinez, the only American on Guam, to “take care of the island until some other officers or man-of-war might reach Guam.” Although this was never been confirmed by the U.S. Navy, it was widely believed to be true. Martinez had been deposed in favor of non-American leadership under José Sisto and then Venancio Roberto, each laying competing claims to governance. Venancio Roberto’s claim was rebuked in favor of Sisto by Lieutenant Commander Vincendon L. Cottman, commander of the U.S. Navy collier Brutus that had arrived at Guam on New Year’s Day 1899; however Sisto's authority was short-lived.

On February 1, Sisto officially relinquished control of the governmental and administrative affairs of Guam to Taussig and Cottman. The American flag was raised over the Governor’s Palace in a ceremony that ended with a 21-gun salute from the Bennington, formally ending nearly 300 years of Guam being part of the Spanish colonial empire. In his short time on Guam, Commander Taussig set up a local council system of temporary government which lasted until the arrival of Lieutenant Louis A. Kaiser in July 1899 under orders to conduct navy surveillance of affairs of Guam. Taussig also supervised the establishment of signal stations and a port survey.

Departing Guam in mid-February 1899, Commander Taussig and Bennington continued on to Manilla, where the ship arrived on 22 February 1899 with the mission of supporting the Army's campaigns during the Philippine–American War primarily with patrol and escort duty. In August 1899, Taussig was summarily relieved of command of the Bennington and ordered home by Rear Admiral John C. Watson, commander of the Asiatic Station, following Tausig’s dissent from the latter’s views concerning campaign plans that were voiced at a staff conference in Manila. According to press reports, Watson resented Taussig’s verbal opposition, and a heated argument between the two ensued. Following his return to San Francisco on the hospital ship, Solace, Commander Taussig requested an investigation.

He was assigned to duty with the United States Lighthouse Board as 13th District Inspector in Portland, OR from October 1899 – April 1900. However, Commander Taussig did not have to wait long for vindication, when in March 1900, public accounts surfaced of Watson’s friction with officers under his command and with the Bureau of Navigation over Watson’s choice of Commander C.C. Cornwall as his executive officer, which the Bureau disapproved. Due to health reasons, Watson was himself privately relieved of command months before the public announcement in March 1900 that he was to be relieved by Rear Admiral George C. Remey. Watson returned home on his flagship Baltimore in April 1900, the same month that Commander Taussig’s duty as lighthouse inspector ended.

The Chinese Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion)

In the spring of 1900, Chinese xenophobia fueled by increasing foreign political and economic influence, including the expanding presence of foreign missionaries increased until it culminated in the Boxer Rebellion. Some Chinese Imperial troops, supporting the Society of Righteous Harmonious Fists (the Boxers) besieged the foreign legations at Peking and at Tientsin. An international relief force from eight nations was sent to relieve the siege. As part of the United States Navy's force assigned to the campaign, the gunboat Yorktown, sister-ship of the Bennington, was withdrawn from her patrol duties in the northern Philippines to provide assistance to the operations off the coast of North China. Yorktown departed Manila on 3 April 1900, bound for China. Upon reaching the mainland, her landing force served ashore at Taku. In June 1900, Taussig assumed command of Yorktown. That same month, Yorktown assisted Oregon to back off a reef near Taku. In August 1900, with Yorktown stationed off Chefoo, China, Taussig cabled dispatches of the decisive Battle of Beicang (Peitsang) from which the Chinese military forces never recovered. The gunboat departed Shanghai on 10 September 1900 and reached Cavite on the 17th. In the Philippines, Yorktown resumed her cooperation with Army forces, engaged in pacification efforts and continued these duties over the next two years. Commander Taussig was detached from Yorktown in June 1901 and was ordered home to await orders (June –October 1901).

Later Years

Promoted to captain on 7 November 1902, his assignments thereafter were to the Washington Navy Yard (November 1901-January 1902); ordinance office, Boston Navy Yard (January – May 1902); commander, training ship, Enterprise (May- October 1902); yard captain, Pensacola Navy Yard (January – October 1903); commander, receiving ship Independence, Mare Island, California (October 1903-October 1904); commander, Massachusetts, North Atlantic Squadron (November 1904- January 1906); commander, training ship Indiana (January – December 1906); yard captain, New York Navy Yard (March – May 1907); general court martial duty, League Island Navy Yard (Pennsylvania) (May – December 1907); commandant, Norfolk Navy Yard and Fifth Naval District (December 1907- November 1909). While at Norfolk he was promoted to rear admiral on 15 May 1908. Rear Admiral Taussig was placed on the U.S. Navy retired list on 20 November 1909.

World War I

During World War I, Taussig was recalled to active duty as commandant of the Naval Unit at Columbia University. (September – December 1918).

Service Medals

United States awards

	Civil War Medal
	Spanish Campaign Medal
	Philippine Campaign Medal
	China Relief Expedition Medal
	World War I Victory Medal

Personal Life

Edward D. Taussig married Ellen Knefler on 9 November 1873. They had five sons, including vice admiral Joseph K. Taussig, who like his father, served for 46 years on the active list of naval officers. Another son, Charles, was a prominent New York attorney. A third son, Paul, died of appendicitis in July 1894, while a cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy. Edward D. Taussig died at Newport, Rhode Island, on 29 January 1921 and is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery along with his wife and son, Paul.

Namesake

• The destroyer Taussig of 1944-1974 was named for him.
• A street at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, is named for him.

References

• "Naval Orders; Disposition of the Commander and Officers of the Atlanta". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Sep 17, 1895. pg. 7, 1 pgs
• "Department Notes". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Dec 12, 1896. pg. 7, 1 pgs
• "Capt. Rob Evans's Message". From The Baltimore Sun. New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Aug 1, 1898. pg. 4, 1 pgs
• "Now Naval Commanders". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Aug 3, 1898. pg. 7, 1 pgs
• "To Take Wake Island". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Dec 24, 1898. pg. 1, 1 pgs
• "Takes Guam Island". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Dec 24, 1898. pg. 3, 1 pgs
• "Wake Island Occupation". New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Mar 22, 1899. pg. 5, 1 pgs
• "Funston's Men Sail Soon". Chicago Daily Tribune (1872–1963). Chicago, Ill.: Sep 2, 1899. pg. 3, 1 pgs
• "Action in Taussig's Case". New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Oct 24, 1899. pg. 7, 1 pgs
• "Commander Taussig Ordered to Manila". New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Mar 25, 1900. pg. 9, 1 pgs
• "The United Service". Special to The New York Times. New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Dec 31, 1901. pg. 3, 1 pgs
• "The United Service". New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Oct 23, 1902. pg. 13, 1 pgs
• "The Cruiser Controversy". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Oct 23, 1902. pg. 4, 1 pgs
• "The United Service". New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Jan 6, 1903. pg. 10, 1 pgs
• "The United Service". New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Aug 8, 1903. pg. 10, 1 pgs
• "Changes in Command". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Oct 13, 1904. pg. 11, 1 pgs
• "Navy Orders". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Jan 7, 1906. pg. 5, 1 pgs
• "Gets Leave to Visit Home". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Dec 11, 1907. pg. 9, 1 pgs
• "Globe Girdled, 16 Battleships Come Home Today". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Ga.: Feb 22, 1909. pg. 1, 2 pgs
• "Rites for Admiral Taussig". Special to Washington Post. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Feb 2, 1921. pg. 3, 1 pg
• Jillette Leon-Guerrero, MA, "Guam Leaders from 1899-1904", © 2009 Guampedia™, URL: http://guampedia.com/guam-leaders-from-1899-1904
• Cogar, William B., "Dictionary of Admirals of the U.S. Navy", vol. 2, 1901-1918, pp. 274-275
• Boston Evening Transcript, October 7, 1899, p. 5
• Hawaiian Gazette, March 16, 1900, p. 7
• New York Times, September 12, 1900
• Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 6, 1900

External links

•  Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). Encyclopedia Americana. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)