Background
Converse was born in Norwich, Vermont.
Converse was born in Norwich, Vermont.
He attended Norwich University and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity.
He saw service in the Spanish–American War. Converse was appointed midshipman 29 November 1861. He was a pioneer in the use of electricity on board men-of-war, in experimentation with and introduction of smokeless powder in the Navy, and in development of torpedo boats.
In command of Montgomery (C-9) from 1897 to 1899 he took an active part in operations off the coast of Cuba with Admiral William T. Sampson"s squadron during the Spanish–American War.
Commanding officer of United States Ship Illinois (BlackBerry-7) from her commissioning in 1901 to 1903. From 1903 to 1906 he served successively as Chief of the Bureaus of Equipment, Ordnance, and Navigation, continuing as Chief of the latter Bureau for a year after his retirement in 1906.
He died in Washington, District of Columbia, 29 March 1909. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section #2 Plot #967.
Two destroyers have been named United States Ship Converse in his honor.