Alfred Canaga

January 2, 1850 (age 56)

Scio, Ohio, United States

Canaga was promoted through the various grades in Engineer Corps to chief engineer in 1895 and became lieutenant commander in March 1899, when the amalgamation of Line and Engineer Corps was consummated. An able, progressive, and efficient designer, he was a loyal assistant to his chief, Admiral Melville, in carrying out the latter's administrative policies. He designed the machinery of the battleships Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine (second), Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin; of the single turret monitors Cheyenne (Wyoming), Ozark (Arkansas), Tallahassee (Florida), Tonopah (Nevada); of the armored cruisers Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Colorado, Washington. He was on duty at the Navy Department during the war with Spain and could not be spared for service at the front. Prior to his duty as chief designer he had made a cruise in the Chicago, which had the most remarkable machinery of modern times, beam engines, driving screw propellers, and cylindrical boilers of large diameter, externally fired with return tubes. Before the end of the cruise it was necessary to treat the boilers like racehorses and blanket them after a run to prevent too rapid cooling. The design of this machinery was due to the civilian engineer member of the Naval Advisory Board and was opposed by the naval engineer member, who was not supported by his naval colleagues. He died suddenly of a stroke while on duty at the Boston Navy Yard in charge of the Engineering Department.

Alfred Bruce Canaga

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also known as Pop Canaga

naval engineer

Background

Alfred Bruce Canaga was born on November 2, 1850 in Scio, Ohio, United States; the son of Elias Green Canaga and Jane (McClintock) Canaga.

Education

He was educated in the public schools of Scio (1856 - 68), at Scio College (1868 - 72), and at the United States Naval Academy (1872 - 74).

Career

Canaga was promoted through the various grades in Engineer Corps to chief engineer in 1895 and became lieutenant commander in March 1899, when the amalgamation of Line and Engineer Corps was consummated. An able, progressive, and efficient designer, he was a loyal assistant to his chief, Admiral Melville, in carrying out the latter's administrative policies. He designed the machinery of the battleships Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine (second), Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin; of the single turret monitors Cheyenne (Wyoming), Ozark (Arkansas), Tallahassee (Florida), Tonopah (Nevada); of the armored cruisers Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Colorado, Washington. He was on duty at the Navy Department during the war with Spain and could not be spared for service at the front. Prior to his duty as chief designer he had made a cruise in the Chicago, which had the most remarkable machinery of modern times, beam engines, driving screw propellers, and cylindrical boilers of large diameter, externally fired with return tubes. Before the end of the cruise it was necessary to treat the boilers like racehorses and blanket them after a run to prevent too rapid cooling. The design of this machinery was due to the civilian engineer member of the Naval Advisory Board and was opposed by the naval engineer member, who was not supported by his naval colleagues.

He died suddenly of a stroke while on duty at the Boston Navy Yard in charge of the Engineering Department.

Achievements

He designed the machinery of several battleships and armored cruisers.

Personality

Owing to his imperturbable good nature, Canaga, known to all his friends as "Pop Canaga, " was universally popular in the navy. He was short and stout.

Connections

In 1881 he was married to Ermina Carr.

Father:: Elias Green Canaga
Mother:: Jane (McClintock) Canaga
Wife:: Ermina Carr

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Alfred Bruce Canaga

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