Adm Richard Wainwright Veteran

Birth: 17 Dec 1849
Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA
Death: 6 Mar 1926 (aged 76)
Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Plot: Section 3, Grave 4336
Memorial ID: 29089584 View Source

Richard Wainwright was the son of Comdr. Richard Wainwright. He was first commissioned in the U.S. Navy on 28 September 1864. On 15 February 1898, he was the executive officer aboard the U.S.S. MAINE when she blew up at Havana harbor, Cuba. "Surviving the explosion, he was assigned to command the tender FERN and was in charge of the recovery of the bodies of the victims. He also assisted in the collection of information for the subsequent court of inquiry." On 3 July 1898 he commanded the U.S.S. GLOUCESTER at the battle of Santiago, Cuba. "In this engagement, GLOUCESTER sank one Spanish torpedo boat and drove another on the beach. Wainwright was commended for his valor in this engagement." Later, as a rear admiral, he commanded the Second Division of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet "during that fleet's historic voyage around the world from 1907 to 1909." He retired from active duty on 7 December 1911. Source: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, Dept. of the Navy, Naval Historical Center, s.v. "Wainwright."