Albert Smith Barker

Background

Albert Smith Barker was born on March 31, 1843 at Hanson, Massachussets, the son of Josiah and Eliza (Cushing) Barker.

Education

He graduater from the Naval Academy in 1862.

Career

Graduating from the Naval Academy, he was immediately ordered to duty on board the Mississippi, and was in her during the bombardment and passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip below New Orleans, and during the capture of that city in April 1862. When the Mississippi, which had been Commodore M. C. Perry's flagship on his expedition to Japan, went aground and was destroyed by her commander, Capt. Melancthon Smith, during an attack on Port Hudson, to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy (March 14, 1863), Ensign Barker was transferred to the Monongahela, and in her took part in the siege and capture of Port Hudson.

On August 9, 1863, he was ordered to the Niagara on special service. He was promoted to be lieutenant February 22, 1864, lieutenant commander July 25, 1866, commander March 28, 1877, captain May 5, 1892, and rear admiral October 10, 1905. In 1877 he was given command of the Alert, in which he explored many islands near New Guinea in search of a shipwrecked crew. During the years 1882-86, in command of the Enterprize, he ran a line of deep-sea soundings round the world. In 1886 he was lighthouse inspector; from 1886 to 1891 he was connected with the Bureau of Navigation; in 1891-92 he was in charge of the Washington navy-yard; and in 1892 he was given command of the Philadelphia. At the beginning of the war with Spain in 1898 he was a member of the important Board of Strategy of the Navy, and during that war commanded the cruiser Newark, participating in the bombardment of Santiago de Cuba, July 1, 1898. From August 2 of that year to May 29, 1899, he commanded the battle-ship Oregon on special service in the Pacific, and succeeded Admiral Dewey in command of the Asiatic Fleet on that date. He afterward held several important commands ashore, and became commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic Fleet in 1903, retiring for age on March 31, 1905.

Achievements

• In 1919 the United States destroyer Barker, named in his honor, was launched at Philadelphia.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Deep-sea sounding. A brief account of the work done by the U.S.S. Enterprise in deep-sea sounding during 1883-1886. By Captain A. S. Barker, U.S.N

    (This book was digitized and reprinted from the collection...)

  • Everyday life in the navy;: Autobiography of Rear Admiral Albert S. Barker

Connections

He was married on October 16, 1894, to Mrs. Ellen (Blackmar) Maxwell, widow of a missionary to India.

Father:

Josiah Barker

Mother:

Eliza (Cushing) Barker

Wife:

Mrs. Ellen (Blackmar) Maxwell