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Photo # NH 49662:  RAdm. Robley D. Evans, USN.  Portrait photograph by Gessford, circa 1901

Online Library of Selected Images:
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Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, USN, (1846-1912)

Robley Dunglison Evans was born in Floyd County, Virginia, on 18 August 1846. He established residency in Utah shortly before he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in September 1860. A member of the Class of 1864, he was commissioned in the rank of Acting Ensign in October 1863 and served in USS Powhatan during most of the remainder of the Civil War. Evans distinguished himself during the ground assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in mid-January 1865 but was badly wounded.

His injuries, which troubled him for the rest of his life, led to Evans' retirement in May 1866, but he was returned to active duty in the rank of Lieutenant early in 1867. During the later 1860s and into 1870 he served in USS Piscataqua (renamed Delaware in 1869), flagship of the Asiatic Fleet, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander during that time. Following shore duty at the Washington Navy Yard and at the Naval Academy, he returned to sea in mid-1873 for over two year's service in the European Squadron, initially in USS Shenandoah and later in USS Congress. Evans then had another assignment at the Washington Navy Yard, during which he worked with signals technology. In 1878-1880 he was Commanding Officer of the training ship Saratoga. Over the next dozen years Commander Evans primarily had assignments as a Light House Inspector and member of the Light-House Board, but in 1891-1893 he went to the Pacific as Commanding Officer of the gunboat Yorktown. His determined conduct during the 1891-92 crisis with Chile won him the popular nickname "Fighting Bob", and his reputation was further enhanced later in 1892 by his energetic efforts to stop illegal seal hunting off Alaska.

Following promotion to Captain in June 1893, Evans had further Light-House Board service and, in 1894-1897, commanded the armored cruiser New York and the new battleship Indiana. During the Spanish-American War he was given command of the battleship Iowa and performed splendidly during the 3 July 1898 Battle of Santiago. He was assigned to the Board of Inspection and Survey from October 1898 until early 1902 and was its President after his February 1901 promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral.

Rear Admiral Evans commanded the Asiatic Fleet in 1902-1904 and, beginning in March 1905, the Atlantic Fleet. In late 1907 and early 1908 he led a large force of battleships around South America to California on the first leg of the "Great White Fleet"'s historic cruise around the World, but ill health forced him to relinquish his post in May 1908. Though retired upon reaching the age of 62 years in August 1908, he had a few years of further service in association with the Navy's General Board. Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans died in Washington, D.C., on 3 January 1912.

The U.S. Navy has named two destroyers in honor of Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans: USS Evans (Destroyer # 78, later DD-78), 1918-1940; and USS Evans (DD-552), 1943-1947.

This page features, and provides links to, nearly all the views we have related to Robley D. Evans.

For other photographs concerning Rear Admiral Evans, see:

  • Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, USN, (1846-1912) -- Part II.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 49663

    Lieutenant Commander Robley D. Evans, USN


    Photograph taken in Hong Kong, 19 June 1870, while he was serving in USS Delaware.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 118KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 49664

    Lieutenant Commander Robley D. Evans, USN


    Portrait photograph taken in 1875.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 107KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41

    Captain Robley D. Evans, USN


    Photograph by Pach Brothers, New York City, circa 1893-1901.

    Collection of George H. Stegmann, April 1930.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 470 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 67144

    Captain Robley D. Evans, USN


    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken when he was Commanding Officer of USS Indiana (Battleship # 1), 1895.

    Courtesy of Harry Howard, 1969, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 455 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 72727

    Captain Robley D. Evans, USN


    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken circa 1898, when he was Commanding Officer of USS Iowa (Battleship # 4).

    Copied from "Harper's Weekly", Volume 42.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 540 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 49662

    Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, USN


    Photograph by Gessford, New York City, circa 1901.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 57KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66619

    Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, USN


    Engraved portrait, with a facsimile of his signature, published circa the early 1900s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 126KB; 440 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98480

    Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, USN


    Halftone reproduction of a photograph copyrighted by Enrique Muller in 1907, and published circa 1908 by F. Ficke, 1778 Post Street, San Francisco, California.
    Rear Admiral Evans commanded the "Great White Fleet" during the first leg of its 1907-1909 voyage around the World.

    Collection of Martin Fenne.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 525 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 86163-KN (Color)

    Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, USN

    Portrait by August Franzen, 1909.

    Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1977.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 58KB; 515 x 765 pixels

     

    For other photographs concerning Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, see:

  • Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, USN, (1846-1912) -- Part II.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 20 May 2003
    Link added 13 September 2008