Nathan Crook Twining

Nathan Crook Twining (17 January 1869 – 4 July 1924) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy.

Nathan Crook Twining Jr.
Born(1869-01-17)January 17, 1869
Boscobel, Wisconsin
DiedJuly 4, 1924(1924-07-04) (aged 55)
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1885–1923
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldTacoma
Battles/warsSpanish–American War
Occupation of Veracruz
World War I
RelationsMerrill B. Twining & Nathan Farragut Twining (nephews)

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.[1] 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.[2]

In 1911 he succeeded his father as an hereditary member of the Delaware Society of the Cincinnati.

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.[3] He died on July 4, 1924, in Nantucket, Massachusetts.[4]

Family

Twining was the uncle of United States Air Force General Nathan F. Twining,[5] and United States Marine Corps General Merrill B. Twining. Rear Adm. Twining was married to Caroline Twining. Caroline died on October 14, 1943, and is buried next to her husband.

Honors

In 1943, the destroyer USS Twining (DD-540) was named in his honor.[6]

Awards

References
  1. "Rear Admiral Nathan Crook Twining". El Paso Herald. January 28, 1922. p. 4. Retrieved April 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "New American Aerial Weapons" Popular Mechanics, December 1911, p. 776.
  3. "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.
  4. "Twining". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  5. "Maj. Twining of Pacific Post First Smelled Powder at 3". The Nebraska State Journal. March 4, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved April 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Widow of Admiral Sponsor for Twining". Oakland Tribune. May 6, 1941. p. 6. Retrieved April 19, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
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