Warren Terhune | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Governor of American Samoa | |
| In office June 10, 1919 – November 3, 1920 | |
| Lieutenant | Creed H. Boucher A. C. Kail |
| Preceded by | John Martin Poyer |
| Succeeded by | Waldo A. Evans |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 3, 1869 |
| Died | November 3, 1920(1920-11-03) (aged 51) |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Spouse | Josephine Lee Smith Terhune |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy |
| Occupation | Naval officer |
| Awards | Order of the Bust of Bolivar |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1889–1920 |
| Rank |  Commander |
| Commands | Seventh Naval District Naval Air Station Key West Dunwoody Naval Training School USS Annapolis |
Warren Jay Terhune (May 3, 1869 – November 3, 1920) was aUnited States NavyCommander, and thegovernor of American Samoa. Terhune was born inMidland Park, New Jersey, and lived inNew Jersey most of his life when not posted elsewhere. He was appointed to theUnited States Naval Academy in 1889 and graduated as alieutenant in 1899. He was stationed on numerous ships and held command of various ships and stations throughout his career. His most notable command posts include theSeventh Naval District ofSouth Florida and theNaval Air Station Key West within his jurisdiction. His largest engagement came whenPresidentWilliam Howard Taft ordered theUnited States Marine Corps toNicaragua in an attempt to put down a rebellion there, primarily out of the city ofManagua. Terhune commandedUSS Annapolis, which landed hundreds of troops to quell the violence and protect American civilians and property.
On June 10, 1919, Terhune became the Governor of American Samoa; his governorship was wrought with problems and controversy. He revampedtaxation on the island. He also took a number of steps to limit the power of the indigenousSamoans, believing they were not fit to govern themselves. He removed several local leaders from power and outlawed marriages between United States Navy sailors and Samoan women. His actions helped lead to the anti-imperialisticMau movement, stemming from perceivedracism and a belief that the marriage law promoted anti-Christian promiscuity. In addition, his twoexecutive officers sympathized with the Mau, leading his first to file a complaint with theSecretary of the Navy. An inquiry was launched to the island, but before it could get there, Terhune, plagued withdepression and health problems, killed himself by a gunshot through the heart on November 3, 1920, at noon. He was the first Governor of American Samoa to die in office.
Terhune was born inMidland Park, New Jersey on May 3, 1869.[1] He lived inHackensack, New Jersey, and graduated fromHackensack High School in 1885.[2] Terhune was a vice-president of theHolland Society of New York.[3] He received the Order of the Bust of Bolivar fromVenezuela in 1909.[4]
Terhune entered theUnited States Naval Academy on May 19, 1885.[5] He became alieutenant on March 3, 1889.[6] He served onUSS Kearsarge from 1889 to 1891,USS Cushing from 1891 to 1894, the staff of theJudge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy in 1894,USS Terror from 1896 to 1899, andUSS Buffalo in 1901.[6] He fought in theSpanish–American War, but was teaching duringWorld War I.[7]
He achieved the rank ofcommander in 1911.[5] He commanded theSeventh Naval District until October 1917, when he became theCommandant of Dunwoody Naval Training School inMinneapolis.[5][8] While at the Seventh District, he also commanded theNaval Air Station Key West.[9]
On at least one occasion, Terhune acted as counsel in acourt martial, for Captain Franklin Steele Wilste of theUnited States Marine Corps, who was accused of failing to pay for uniforms, clothing, liquor, and other items.[10]
During a rebellion against theUnited States armed forces inManagua,PresidentWilliam Howard Taft dispatched theMarines to the city. Terhune first landed a force of 365 men for the initial police action.[11] Later, his force of 40 sailors and 10 marines attempted to break out of Managua and back to their ship,USS Annapolis, anchored inCorinto, Nicaragua.[12] From there, they were to reestablish contact between the fleet and Managua,[13] and protect the Americans and foreigners there.[14] However, on the way, his train was taken by rebel forces; he was reluctant to attempt to take it back, until MajorSmedley Butler convinced him it was the correct option. Convincing the rebels they had dynamite, the force took back the train and made it back to the ship.[12]
Terhune was appointedGovernor of American Samoa on March 18, 1919, and took office on June 10, 1919. Terhune faced many issues during his term, many involving economic issues like tax revenue. Other issues stemmed from race, like revising restrictions on intermarriages between whites and ethnicSamoans; controversy erupted when he banned marriages between Navy sailors and Samoan natives. The religious Christian Samoans not only claimed racism but that the law encouraged sailors to have sexual relations with young native girls, knowing they would never have to take responsibility for their actions.[15] He took further action against the native people of the islands by stripping a number of tribal leaders of power. As his rationale, he wrote, "The natives are very charming people, but very childish... of the STONE AGE and are not capable of managing their affairs with wisdom."[15] His actions helped lead to the anti-imperialistMau movement. Terhune'sexecutive officer,Lieutenant CommanderCreed H. Boucher sided with the Mau, so Terhune had him replaced. Boucher was later found guilty of fomenting unrest among the Samoans. However, the replacement,CommanderA. C. Kail, likewise proved not to work well with Terhune, and also supported the Mau cause.[15][16] Terhune's first run-in with the Mau occurred when a group of Samoans returned to the island from theUnited States, seeking to enter theland development business. He established the sixth American Samoan government department on November 15, 1919, with the establishment of theAmerican Samoa Department of Public Works.[17]
Upon hearing of the multiple difficulties Terhune was having,Secretary of the NavyLieutenant CommanderJosephus Daniels ordered an inquiry after accusations from Boucher,[18] sendingCaptainWaldo Evans to lead the investigation. A few days before the probe reached the island, Terhune had a morning meeting with the island chiefs who remained loyal, and appeared "in good spirits".[16] However, later reports suggested that Terhune had been suffering from severe depression and heart problems.[19] Terhune then shot himself in the heart with a.45pistol in a bathroom of theGovernment House inUtulei, American Samoa at noon November 3, 1920.[16][20] His body was found by the cook, Felisiano Debid Ah-Chica.[21] Terhune's wife and a group of doctors rushed to his aid, but found him already dead.[16] Upon arrival,Waldo Evans was appointed governor on November 11, 1920, taking over from Kail, who had temporarily taken the post;[16] and the court later exonerated Terhune.[21] In his two days as acting governor, Kail attempted to undo a number of Terhune's policies, including firing the head surgeon who had refused to declare Terhune insane.[22] Terhune's suicide makes him the only American Samoan governor to die in office,[17] and his ghost is rumored to wander the grounds of the Government House.[17][21]
Following Governor Terhune’s suicide, several of his controversial laws were rescinded, including the reinstatement ofMauga Moi Moi andSātele Itulā to their positions as district governors in theWestern andEastern Districts.[23][24]
Terhune and his wife Josephine Lee (1868–1955) are buried atArlington National Cemetery.[25]
warren j. terhune.
warren jay terhune.
| Commandant(1900–1905) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Naval(1905–1951) | ||
| Civil(1951–1978) | ||
| Elected(since 1978) | ||
