John Adams Howell

Background

Howell was born at Bath, Steuben County, N. Y. , in 1840, the son of William and Frances Adelphia (Adams) Howell.

Education

After receiving his early education in the public schools of Bath, he was appointed at the age of fourteen to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. , his appointment coming from the 28th New York congressional district. Four years later he graduated as a midshipman, at the head of his class.

Career

He was assigned to the U. S. S. Macedonian, then attached to the Mediterranean Squadron. After serving three years on this and on several other ships he was promoted, January 19, 1861, to the rank of passed midshipman; advanced to master the following month; and was commissioned a lieutenant on April 18, 1861. In this capacity he served throughout the Civil War on the ships Supply, Montgomery, and Ossipee, the latter a ship of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. On March 3, 1865, he was commissioned lieutenant commander, and after doing special service on the De Soto for two years he was detailed to the Naval Academy, August 3, 1867, where for the next four years he served as head of the department of astronomy and navigation. He was then detailed to command a hydrographic survey party in cooperation with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, during which time he was promoted to the rank of commander. Upon completing this work he returned to the Naval Academy in December 1874, and for four years again headed the department of astronomy and navigation.

Subsequently, after completing two years' service in command of the Adams, he was detailed in 1881 to the Navy Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, serving first as an inspector of ordnance at the Navy Yard, and later as a member of the Naval Advisory Board. This service continued until 1888 when as captain, having been promoted to that rank in 1884, he was assigned to the command of the Atlanta. From 1890 to 1893 he was again on steel inspection duty, being a member of the Steel Board, and its president from July 1891. On February 1, 1893, he was placed in command of the Navy Yard at Washington and continued in this capacity for three years, serving at the same time as president of the Naval Examining and Retiring Board as well as president of the Steel Board. He was promoted to the rank of commodore on May 21, 1895, and that year was made commandant of the Navy Yard at League Island, Philadelphia, remaining there until April 1898.

Through the Spanish-American War he served in various capacities at sea: first on his flagship San Francisco as commander of the Mediterranean Squadron; then in command of the Northern Patrol Squadron of the North Atlantic Fleet; and finally as commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic Fleet during the absence of Rear Admiral Sampson. On August 10, 1898, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. After the war, he was again made president of the Naval Examining and Retiring Board at Washington and served until his retirement on March 16, 1902.

Howell was always interested in the development of the submarine and torpedo, and from the time of his connection with the Navy Yard at Washington he conducted many experiments in an effort to improve the torpedo. He worked particularly on the gyroscope as a means of directing the path of a torpedo, and it is said that the Howell torpedo, which he patented about 1885, was the first to use a gyroscopic device. He also developed and patented several forms of torpedo-launching apparatus and of high explosive shells, the patents on these being granted to him between the years 1885 and 1892; invented a form of fly-wheel torpedo; and perfected an amphibian type of lifeboat. In addition to his work in these fields, he took up the task of improving coast-defense ordnance and patented, March 24, 1896, a disappearing gun carriage of the counterpoise type.

He was the author of several publications: The Mathematical Theory of the Deviations of the Compass Arranged for the Use of the Cadets at the U. S. Naval Academy (1879); Observations for Dip Taken on the U. S. Steamer "Adams" off the Coasts of California, Mexico and Peru (1882); "Report of the Armor Factory Board, " House Document No. 95, 55 Cong. , 2 Sess. (1897).

Achievements

• He is remembered as a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who served during the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

Connections

In May 1867 Howell married Arabella E. Krausé of St. Croix, W. I, and at his death in Warrenton, Va. , where he lived following his retirement, he was survived by a son and two daughters.

Father:

William Howell

Mother:

Frances Adelphia (Adams) Howell

Spouse:

Arabella E. Krausé

Daughter:

Arabella Howell

Daughter:

Frances Howell

Son:

William Howell

Brother:

William Howell, Jr.

Brother:

Robert Howell

Brother:

Edward Augustus Howell

Brother:

William Adams Howell

References

• Who's Who in America, 1916 - 1917, Vol. IX 9: A Biographical Dictionary Of Notable Living Men And Women In The United States