John Joseph Knapp
Captain John Joseph Knapp (29 October, 1857 – 28 September, 1915) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Knapp was born in Missouri and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state, graduating with the Class of 1878. During his career he frequently served as a Judge-Advocate at courts-martial, developed an improved record-keeping system for Navy Yards, and received a patent on a device to decrease the chances of turret explosions aboard naval vessels.
He was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 26 June, 1884,[1] to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 15 October, 1890,[2] and to the rank of Lieutenant on 2 February, 1895.[3]
After serving as Executive Officer of the Coast Survey steamer Patterson in 1897, Knapp became Flag Lieutenant in the European Squadron. In the lead-up to the Spanish-American War, Knapp was detached from this assignment to take command of two warships purchased in Europe for use in the conflict. He commanded torpedo boat Somers from 28 March, 1898 to 5 April, 1898 for a passage from Germany to Britain, but then took command of gunboat Topeka for a perilous journey to the United States, lasting from 5 April to 4 May.[4][5][6] Knapp then returned to his staff duties, though the squadron had been designated as the First Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet.[7]
While assigned to the Washington Navy Yard in 1899, Knapp briefly served as commanding officer of armed yacht Sylph.[8] He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 2 September, 1901.[9]
In 1905 Knapp was appointed commanding officer of supply ship Celtic, bringing the ship from the Pacific to the Atlantic.[10] While in command, he was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 July, 1906.[11]
From October 1908 to November 1909, Knapp commanded monitor Cheyenne, the first major US Navy ship converted to burn oil fuel.[12][13] He followed this duty with an appointment as Hydrographer of the Navy, during which he assisted the Senate investigation of the Titanic disaster. Knapp was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 July, 1910 while in this assignment.[14][15]
Knapp's final seagoing appointment was as commanding officer of battleship Connecticut from 1912 to 1914, which included service off Tampico in early 1914.[16][17]
Back ashore, he was appointed Commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in June 1915. He died at his desk on 28 September, 1915, reportedly of a heart attack.[18]
See Also
Bibliography
Papers
Service Records
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of U.S.S. Somers 28 Mar, 1898 – 5 Apr, 1898[19] |
Succeeded by Charles W. Hazeltine |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of U.S.S. Topeka 2 Apr, 1898 – 4 May, 1898[20] |
Succeeded by William S. Cowles |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of U.S.S. Sylph Jun, 1898[21] |
Succeeded by William J. Maxwell |
| Preceded by Charles T. Forse |
Captain of U.S.S. Celtic 19 Oct, 1905[22][23] – 19 Feb, 1906[Inference] |
Succeeded by Lewis J. Clark |
| Preceded by Vincendon L. Cottman |
Captain of U.S.S. Wyoming 8 Oct, 1908[24] – Nov, 1909[25] |
Succeeded by Elmo H. Williams |
| Preceded by Hugh Rodman |
Captain of U.S.S. Connecticut 24 Oct, 1912[26] – 28 Dec, 1914[27][28][Inference] |
Succeeded by Edward H. Durell |
| Preceded by William S. Benson |
Commandant, Navy Yard, Philadelphia 17 Jun, 1915 – 28 Sep, 1915[29] |
Succeeded by Robert L. Russell |
Footnotes
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1889. pp. 28-29.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1891. pp. 26-27.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1896. pp. 22-23.
- ↑ Boston Globe 29 March, 1898 p. 7.
- ↑ Boston Globe 6 April, 1898 p. 5.
- ↑ Boston Globe 5 May, 1898 p. 12.
- ↑ List and Station, July 1898. p. 63.
- ↑ List and Station, July 1899. p. 13.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1902. pp. 20-21.
- ↑ Evening Star (Washington, DC) 15 December, 1906 p. 14.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1907. pp. 16-17.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1909. p. 12.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1911. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1912. pp. 10-11.
- ↑ Washington Times 29 April, 1912 p. 2.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1915. p. 10.
- ↑ Brooklyn Daily Eagle 29 September, 1915 p. 9.
- ↑ Boston Globe 6 April, 1898 p. 5.
- ↑ Boston Globe 5 May, 1898 p. 12.
- ↑ List and Station, July 1899. p. 13.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1906. p. 18.
- ↑ Silverstone. The New Navy. p. 133.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1909. p. 12.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1911. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1915. p. 12.
- ↑ Brooklyn Daily Eagle 29 September, 1915 p. 9.
