Clarence Page Townsley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1855-09-24)September 24, 1855 De Kalb, New York |
| Died | December 28, 1926(1926-12-28) (aged 71) Washington, D.C. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1881–1918 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | United States Army Field Artillery Branch United States Army Coast Artillery Corps |
| Commands | Pensacola Coast Artillery District U.S. Army Coast Artillery School Superintendent of the United States Military Academy 30th Division |
| Battles / wars | Spanish–American War World War I |
Clarence Page Townsley (September 24, 1855 – December 28, 1926) was a careerUnited States Army officer who becameSuperintendent of the United States Military Academy.
Clarence P. Townsley was born inDe Kalb, New York, on September 24, 1855, a son of Elias P. Townsley and Louise (Thompson) Townsley.[1] Townsley's grandfather Gideon had served as the town's postmaster, was electedtown supervisor, and operated atannery close to theOswegatchie River. Townsley's father also served as postmaster and town supervisor, and was elected to theNew York State Assembly.[2]
In 1872, Townsley graduated from theState Normal School inPotsdam.[2] He then attendedUnion College inSchenectady, New York, from which he graduated with aC.E degree in 1876.[1] He spent a year inSioux City, Iowa, working as a civil engineer on theCovington, Columbus and Black Hills Railroad.[3] In July 1877 he was appointed to theUnited States Military Academy. Townsley graduated in 1881, ranked 14th of 53, and was appointed asecond lieutenant ofField Artillery.[4]
Townsley served initially with the4th Field Artillery Regiment.[1] After a brief tour in California, Townsley returned to upstate New York, then to severalCoast Artillery posts. He spent three years teaching drawing at West Point.[4]
During theSpanish–American War, Townsley commanded the Ordnance office of 1st Division,Fourth Army Corps inHuntsville, Alabama, and then the Ordnance office for the Department ofHavana,Cuba.[1]
Townsley commanded the Coast Artillery District ofPensacola beginning in 1905. In 1909, he was promoted tolieutenant colonel and assigned to command the Coast Artillery School and the Artillery District ofChesapeake Bay.[5]
In 1912, Townsley was appointed as superintendent of the United States Military Academy.[1] He was still serving as West Point's superintendent at the outbreak ofWorld War I, and continued in this post until July 1916, when he was promoted tobrigadier general and returned to Coast Artillery duty. As the Army prepared for entry into the war, Townsley commanded the South Atlantic Coast Artillery District, then was assigned to thePhilippines, where he inspected the artillery emplacements ofManila andSubic Bays.[5]
Recalled to the United States to train and command the30th Division, Townsley was promoted to temporarymajor general before leading his division toFrance.[1] Townsley later returned to the United States because of illness, and was on medical leave atWalter Reed Hospital until just before theArmistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the war. He briefly commanded the North Pacific Coast Artillery District before retiring in December 1918.[5]
Townsley died inWashington, D.C., on December 28, 1926.[6] He was buried atWest Point Cemetery inWest Point, New York.[6]
In 1891, Townsley married Marian Howland (1862-1925).[7] They were the parents of three children, Marian (1891-1983), Helen Howland (1895-1990), and Clarence.[7] Helen Townsley was the wife of Major GeneralLeven Cooper Allen.[8] Clarence P. Townsley Jr. (1896-1975) was a career officer in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of brigadier general.[9]
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Superintendents of the United States Military Academy 1912–1916 | Succeeded by |