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Royal Rodney was born on December 4, 1847 at Niles, Michigan, United States. The son of Rebecca A. (Deniston) and Harmon Wadsworth Ingersoll and a descendant of John Ingersoll who came to Salem, Massachussets, in 1629. His father was a wagon maker, at one time superintendent of the Studebaker Wagon Works, South Bend, Indiana.
Ingersoll was appointed midshipman in 1864, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1868. Later, he studied at Naval War College.
After studies Ingersoll spent five years chiefly in the European Squadron and two years on the China station, 1875-76. From then until the Spanish-American War his naval service included the usual sea duty in many parts of the world and shore duty principally at the Naval Academy, where he was instructor in mathematics, 1876-79; ordnance instructor, 1883-87; and head of the ordnance department, 1890-93, 1897-98, 1899-1901.
After promotion to lieutenant-commander, 1893, and service as executive officer of the flagship Philadelphia of the Asiatic Squadron, 1894-97, he commanded the refrigerator ship Supply during the war with Spain, and, with the rank of commander, 1899, the gunboat Helena and later the cruiser New Orleans on the Asiatic station, 1901-03. The Helena was Robley D. Evans' flagship on a cruise 1, 100 miles up the Yangtse River to Ichang, September-October, 1902. With his special knowledge and interest in ordnance, Ingersoll took a prominent part in the rejuvenation of naval gunnery begun in Evans' squadron at this time.
After study at the Naval War College and service on the General Board of the navy, he commanded the cruiser Maryland, 1905-07, and was then selected as Admiral Evans' chief of staff for the world cruise of the American fleet. This involved unusual responsibilities, for Evans because of illness was on deck only twice after the fleet left Trinidad. Upon Evans' giving up the command at San Francisco, July 1908, Ingersoll also went ashore.
He was made rear admiral July 11, 1908, and was on the General Board until his retirement on December 4, 1909. Afterward he lived at La Porte, Indiana.
He died on 21 April 1931 at age 83.
Royal Rodney Ingersoll served with dictinction during World War I and in the result of his successful service was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. Besides, he was the author of three works on ordnance: Text-book of Ordnance and Gunnery (1884); Exterior Ballistics (1891); and The Elastic Strength of Guns (1891). In 1943, the destroyer USS Ingersoll (DD-652) was named in honor of R. Adm.
Ingersoll was slightly below medium height, erect of carriage, an unassuming man. He was a genial and beloved figure, honorary life-commander of the American Legion post, and a frequent speaker on civic occasions
Quotes from others about the person
In An Admiral's Log (1910), Evans said of Ingersoll that he was "an officer of marked ability who had spent much time on the river and knew the conditions better than any other officer under his command. " Regarding him also as "firm, of excellent judgment, and, above all, well versed in treaty rights and obligations", Evans subsequently placed him in charge at Nanking during a troubled period at that port.
Ingersoll's wife was Cynthia Eason, daughter of Seth Eason, whom he married at La Porte on August 26, 1873. He had one son, Capt. Royal Eason Ingersoll.
