Hilary P. Jones

Hilary Pollard Jones, Jr. (14 November 1863 – 1 January 1938) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War and World War I. During the early 1920s, he served as Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.

Early life and career

Born in Hanover County, Virginia, Jones graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1884. He was the son of Hilary Pollard Jones, who commanded an artillery battalion in the Army of Northern Virginia (a component of the Confederate States of America) during the American Civil War. As a young Ensign, Hilary Jones was commended for his bravery and skill in helping to save Nipsic from sinking during the great Samoan hurricane of 1889.^[1]

During the Spanish–American War Jones served on Dorothea on patrol duty off Cuba. In the next years he sailed in various ships of the fleet, rising to command the battleship Rhode Island in 1912. In 1913 he assumed command of the Washington Navy Yard.

World War I and post-war years

During World War I Jones commanded patrol units and later a division of the Transport Force. He received the Distinguished Service Medal for his outstanding service.

Following the war Admiral Jones had important commands at sea, culminating in 1922 in the post of Commander in Chief, United States Fleet. In 1923 he left this duty to join the Navy General Board.

With Secretary of State Charles Hughes in 1922

Retirement

Admiral Jones retired in 1927 but served as naval advisor at the Geneva Disarmament Conference, and then the London Naval Conference of 1930. He was a prominent member of the Virginia Society of the Society of the Cincinnati, representing Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, and served as its president from 1924 to 1926.

Admiral Jones died 1 January 1938.

Namesake

The destroyer USS Hilary P. Jones was named for him.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.