William Shepherd Benson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Admiral William S. Benson,c. 1916 | |
| Born | (1855-09-25)25 September 1855 Bibb County, Georgia, US |
| Died | 20 May 1932(1932-05-20) (aged 76) Washington, D.C., US |
| Buried | Arlington National Cemetery (Section 3, Lot 1873-B) |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1877–1919 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | Chief of Naval Operations Philadelphia Navy Yard USS Utah USS Albany |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal |
| Relations | Catherine Brewer Benson (mother) Howard H. J. Benson (son) |
| Signature | .png) |
William Shepherd Benson (25 September 1855 – 20 May 1932) was anadmiral in theUnited States Navy and the firstchief of naval operations (CNO), holding the post throughoutWorld War I.
William was born on a cotton plantation inBibb County, Georgia, son of Richard Aaron Benson andCatherine Elizabeth (Brewer) Benson.[1] Benson graduated from theUnited States Naval Academy in 1877. His early years of sea duty included a cruise around the world inUSS Dolphin during the 1880s. He was also active in coast survey andhydrographic duties, was an instructor at the Naval Academy, commanded thecruiserAlbany, and served as a flag aide, in addition to other assignments. In 1906, Benson attended theNaval War College.[2]
In 1909, Benson was promoted tocaptain and became chief of staff of theUnited States Pacific Fleet. In 1911, Benson became the first commanding officer of thebattleshipUSS Utah. He was commandant of thePhiladelphia Navy Yard in 1913–15.
In May 1915, Benson was promoted to the rank ofrear admiral and became the Navy's first CNO, functionally replacing Rear AdmiralBradley A. Fiske, the last aide for naval operations.
Benson was heavily involved in defining the functions of the new CNO position and strengthening the navy during a period marked by internal Navy Department tensions, US interventions in theCaribbean andCentral America, andWorld War I. Promoted to the rank ofadmiral in 1916, his responsibilities greatly expanded when the United States entered World War I in April 1917. Over the next year and a half, he oversaw a huge expansion of the navy, the extension of its operations to European waters, and the transportation of theUnited States Army'sAmerican Expeditionary Forces to France. After the November 1918armistice, he was an active participant in the lengthy peace negotiations held in France.
In World War I, the Navy explored aviation, both land- and carrier-based, but the navy nearly abolished aviation in 1919, when Benson could not "conceive of any use the fleet will ever have for aviation," and he secretly tried to abolish the Navy's Aviation Division.[3] Assistant Secretary of the NavyFranklin D. Roosevelt, though, reversed the decision because he believed naval aviation might someday be "the principal factor" at sea with missions to bomb enemy warships, scout enemy fleets, map mine fields, and escort convoys. Grudgingly allowing it a minor mission, the navy slowly built up its aviation arm.Naval aviation later proved to be the decisive advantage for the United States Navy that ensured victory duringWorld War II and the duration of theCold War, and it remains today as the centerpiece of the combat striking arms of the United States Navy.
Benson retired from the naval service in September 1919. Over the next decade, he was active in the leadership of theUnited States Shipping Board. He served as the first president of the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, from 1925 to 1932.
Benson died on 20 May 1932, of a cerebral haemorrhage, inWashington, DC.[1] He is buried inArlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Lot 1873-B.[4]
Benson's mother,Catherine Brewer Benson, was the first woman to receive a degree from Georgia Female College (nowWesleyan College). His son, CommodoreHoward H. J. Benson, also a career navy officer, received theNavy Cross andLegion of Merit.
Benson was named for the admiral and was thelead ship of her class, theBenson-classdestroyer;Admiral W. S. Benson was also named in his honor and was the lead ship of her class, theAdmiral W. S. Benson-classtransport.[5]
The one-block-long street named Benson Street in Charleston, South Carolina was named in his honor.[6]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theNaval History and Heritage Command.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Chief of Naval Operations 1915–1919 | Succeeded by |
