William Thomas Sampson

William Thomas Sampson
William Thomas Sampson
Born	(1840-02-09)February 9, 1840 Palmyra, New York, U.S.
Died	May 6, 1902(1902-05-06) (aged 62) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1857–1902
Rank	Rear admiral
Commands held	Alert Mayflower Swatara San Francisco Iowa North Atlantic Station
Battles/wars	American Civil War Blockade of the South Sinking of USS Patapsco Spanish–American War Blockade of Cuba Bombardment of San Juan Battle of Santiago de Cuba

American Civil War

Spanish–American War

William Thomas Sampson (February 9, 1840 – May 6, 1902) was a United States Navy rear admiral known for his victory in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish–American War.

He was born in Palmyra, New York, and entered the United States Naval Academy on September 24, 1857. After graduating first in his class four years later, he served as an instructor at the Academy, teaching physics. In 1864, he became the executive officer of the monitor Patapsco of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and engaged in sweeping torpedoes off Charleston, South Carolina. He survived the loss of that ironclad on January 15, 1865, when she struck a torpedo, exploded, and sank with a loss of 75 lives.

Following duty in the steam frigate Colorado on the European Station, another tour as instructor at the Naval Academy, and in the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department, he served in the screw sloop Congress. He then commanded the Alert, the training ship Mayflower, and the Swatara while on duty at the Naval Academy.