Nathan Crook Twining
| Nathan Crook Twining Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
January 17, 1869 Boscobel, Wisconsin |
| Died |
July 4, 1924 (aged 55) Nantucket, Massachusetts |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1885–1923 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | Tacoma |
| Battles/wars |
Spanish–American War Occupation of Veracruz World War I |
| Relations | Merrill B. Twining & Nathan Farragut Twining (nephews) |
Nathan Crook Twining (17 January 1869 – 4 July 1924) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy.
Biography
Twining was born in Boscobel, Wisconsin, on 17 January 1869, the son of Nathan Crook Twining (sr.) (1834–1924) and his second wife, Mary Jane Rennie. He was raised, in part, by his father's third wife, Margaret E. "Maggie" Rockwell (1849–1919) of Batavia, Kane County, Illinois.
He was appointed a naval cadet in 1885 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy on 7 June 1889. During the Spanish–American War, he served in Iowa (BB-4) in Cuban waters and later was executive officer of Kearsarge (BB-5) when that ship circumnavigated the globe with the Great White Fleet.
As the capability of aircraft to bombard warships was grower ever more likely, in 1911 Twining developed the U.S. Navy's first anti-aircraft cannon. The prototype was a 1-pounder. It was not placed in production, but provided the conceptual basis for the upscale 3 inch anti-aircraft cannon mounted on most U.S. warships during World War I.[1]
He commanded Tacoma (C-18) during the bombardment of Veracruz, Mexico in 1914.
During World War I, he served as Chief of Staff for Admiral William Sims, Commander of Naval Forces in European waters. He was also a member of the Allied War Council.
Rear Admiral Twining retired early in 1923 due to ill health.[2] He died on July 4, 1924, in Nantucket, Massachusetts.[3]
Family
Twining was the uncle of United States Air Force General Nathan F. Twining, and United States Marine Corps General Merrill B. Twining. Rear Adm. Twining was married to Caroline Twining. Caroline died October 14, 1943, and is buried next to her husband.
Honors
In 1943, the destroyer USS Twining (DD-540) was named in his honor.
Awards
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Specially Meritorious Service Medal
- Sampson Medal
- Spanish Campaign Medal
- Mexican Service Medal
- Victory Medal
References
- ↑ "New American Aerial Weapons" Popular Mechanics, December 1911, p. 776.
- ↑ "Twining Quits Naval Berth. Admiral's Retirement Due to Ill Health. Other Changes Provided in New Orders. Battle Fleet Chaplains to be Switched". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
Rear Admiral Nathan Crook Twining, chief-of-staff of the Pacific Fleet under Amiral Hugh Rodman and one of the most brilliant officers in the service, has boen ordered home and relieved of all active duty by recent naval orders.
- ↑ "Twining". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved 22 November 2010.