Emory, William H. (William Hemsley), 1846-1917

William Hemsley Emory was born in 1846 in Washington, D.C., and was a son of William Hemsley Emory, 1811-1887, a soldier and topographical engineer with the United States and Mexican Boundary Commission. The younger Emory graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1866, after serving as a midshipman in the Civil War. In 1884 he commanded the ship Bear during an Arctic expedition to rescue members of A.W. Greely's Lady Franklin Bay Expedition. As commander of the Thetis in the North Pacific, 1887-1889, he went to Point Barrow, Alaska Territory. During this cruise, he captured the murderer of Archbishop John Charles Seghers and returned Segher's remains to Victoria, British Columbia. He commanded the Petrel during the Chinese-Japanese War, and he served in the Spanish-American War. Rear Admiral Emory retired in 1908. He died in 1917 in Newport, Rhode Island.

From the description of William Hemsley Emory log book of the ship Thetis and photograph album, 1884-1896 (bulk 1887-1888). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81256718

From the description of William Hemsley Emory log book of the ship Thetis and photograph album, 1884-1896 (bulk 1887-1888). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702150390

Naval officer.

From the description of William H. Emory papers, 1877-1948 (bulk 1894-1906). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70979799

Biographical Note

• 1846, Dec. 17: Born, Washington, D.C.
• 1866: Graduated, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. Duty in Iroquois (sloop), Asiatic Station
• 1870: Duty at United States Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.
• 1874: Duty at United States Coast Survey
• 1876: Married Blanche Willis
• 1877: Duty at United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
• 1880: Duty in Trenton (frigate), European Station
• 1881: Aide to David Dixon Porter
• 1884: Commanded Bear (cutter), Greely Relief Expedition
• 1886: Commanded Thetis (whaler), North Pacific Ocean
• 1887: Promoted to lieutenant commander
• 1889: Naval attaché, American Embassy, London, England
• 1894: Commanded Petrel (gunboat), China Station
• 1897: Member, Board of Inspection and Survey
• 1898: Commanded Yosemite (cruiser), North Atlantic Fleet, Eastern Squadron
• 1900: Commanded Monongahela (sloop)
• 1901: Promoted to captain Commanded Indiana (battleship)
• 1904: Commanded Hancock (transport)
• 1906: Promoted to rear admiral
• 1907: Commanded Second Squadron, Atlantic Fleet
• 1908: Retired
• 1917, July 14: Died, Newport, R.I.

From the guide to the William H. Emory Papers, 1877-1948, (bulk 1894-1906), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)