Background
STRAUSS, Joseph was born on November 16, 1861 in Mountain. Morris, New York, United States.
rear admiral United States Navy
STRAUSS, Joseph was born on November 16, 1861 in Mountain. Morris, New York, United States.
He attended the United States Naval Academy and was the first Jewish Admiral in the United States Navy.
Born in Mount Morris, New York, Strauss was commissioned as an ensign on 1 July 1887. He began a distinguished career as specialist in ordnance in June 1893 when he reported to the Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, D.C. During the Spanish–American War he served in the sloop Lancaster blockading the Cuban coast, then returned to the Bureau of Ordnance. He conducted experimental work with torpedoes while commanding the cruiser Montgomery from 1909 to 1911.
Commanded the pre-dreadnought battleship Ohio in 1912. Then became Chief of Bureau of Ordnance on 21 October 1913. Strauss assumed command of the super-dreadnought Nevada on 30 December 1916 and remained in command as the United States entered World War I. Detached from the battleship in February 1918, he was designated Commander, Mine Force, Atlantic Fleet.
He was awarded the both for directing the laying of the North Sea Mine Barrage and for the hazardous task of clearing it after peace came. He resumed duty with the General Board in October 1922. The following year he also worked with Congress on the budget and appropriations.
He transferred to the Retired List on 16 November 1925, but returned briefly to active duty from 8 October 1937 to 8 February 1938 to serve the Advisory Board on Battleship Plans. He died on 30 December 1948 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Among his inventions were the superimposed system of mounting guns.
The first spring recoil gun mount, the first disappearing mount for deck guns of submarines, and the 12-inch gun, the fore-runner of the mighty guns for capital ships' main batteries. He received a special letter of appreciation from Secretary of the Navy Charles F. Adams in 1929 for his work on safety devices of submarines and the salvaging of sunken submarines. The Navy guided-missile destroyer Joseph Strauss (DDG-16) was named after him.
Member, General Board. Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet. 22. Awarded United States Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Knight Commander, St. Michael and St. George. Commander Legion of Honor of France. Commander Order of Sacred Treasure of Japan.
Member Commission to finally determine cause of destruction of Maine after she had been uncovered in Havana Harbor. Author of various articles on ordnance and ballistics.
Spouse Mary Sweitzer, November 9, 1901, Washington.