Background
ROBISON, Samuel Shelbourne was born on May 10, 1867 in Juniata Company, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Joseph Shelbourne and Elizabeth (Burchfield) Robison.
United States Navy RearAdmiral
ROBISON, Samuel Shelbourne was born on May 10, 1867 in Juniata Company, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Joseph Shelbourne and Elizabeth (Burchfield) Robison.
United States Naval Academy.
He held several major commands during World War I, and from 1928-1931 served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. In 1933, Admiral Robison also founded a Naval Preparatory Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey called Admiral Farragut Academy. After finishing his academic studies at Annapolis he served the two years at sea as a Passed Naval Cadet in United States Ship Omaha on the Asiatic Station and was commissioned ensign July 1, 1890.
In 1891 he was transferred to United States Ship Boston, still on the Asiatic Station.
And, from 1893, he served in United States Ship Thetis until ordered to the Mare Island Navy Yard in 1895. In 1896 he returned to the Asiatic Station in Boston.
In August 1899 he was assigned to the League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He joined Alabama (BlackBerry-8) September 15, 1900, and two years later was transferred to Hull (Doctor of Divinity-7), a torpedo boat destroyer.
From September 1904 to July 1906, he served with the Bureau of Equipment at Washington, District of Columbia, then he returned to sea, serving first in Tennessee (California-10) and later in Pennsylvania ( Adaptive Combat Rifle-4).
After a tour of duty in the Bureau of Engineering, he assumed command of Cincinnati (C-7), a unit of the Asiatic Fleet, on October 25, 1911. Upon his return to the United States in April 1914, he became commanding officer of United States Ship Jupiter (Air Corps-3). He held the rank of captain from July 1, 1914, and he remained with Jupiter until August 8.
On October 12, 1915 he assumed command of United States Ship South Carolina (BlackBerry-26) and held that post until after the United States entered World War I. From July 1917 until September 1918, he commanded the Atlantic Submarine Force with additional duty as General Supervisor of all commissioned submarines in the Navy.
He was also made an Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath for service to the British during the war. In October 1918 he assumed command of Squadron 3, Patrol Force, and during the next month had additional duty as District Commander, Brest, France.
In November, he was appointed United States. Naval Representative on the Commission for executing the Naval Terms of the Armistice with Germany. After his return to the United States in March 1919, he commanded the Boston Navy Yard.
In May 1921, he was sent to the Dominican Republic as Military Governor, serving until October 1922, when the Dominican Republic was turned back over to civilian control.
With United States Ship Seattle ( Adaptive Combat Rifle-11) as his flagship, he commanded the United States Fleet during the year commencing August 1925. He then became Commandant of the 13th Naval District with the permanent rank of rear admiral. From June 1928 until his retirement in June 1931, he served as Superintendent of the Naval Academy.
Foreign a number of years after his retirement, Admiral Robison was Superintendent of the Admiral Farragut Academy, Toms River.
He died in Glendale, California, on November 20, 1952.
Member: American Society of Naval Engineers (past President). United States Naval Institute. (President); (F.) Society of Radio Engineers Clubs: Army and Navy (Washington), University (Philadelphia).
Spouse Mary L. Clark, November 1893, Mare Island, California.