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Photo # NH 49555:  Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, October 1912

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, USN (1854-1942)

Bradley Allen Fiske was born in Lyons, New York, on 13 June 1854. He was appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Ohio in 1870, graduating four years later and receiving his commission as a Navy Ensign in July 1875. Fiske's early service years included duty as an officer on board the steam sloops-of-war Pensacola and Plymouth, both on the Pacific Station, and the paddle steamer Powhatan in the Atlantic. He also received instruction in the then-young field of torpedo warfare. Promoted to Master in 1881 and Lieutenant in 1887, during much of that decade he had training ship duty in USS Saratoga and USS Minnesota, served in the South Atlantic Squadron on the steam sloop Brooklyn, and was twice assigned to the Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, D.C. As one of the Navy's most technically astute officers, in 1886-1888 he supervised the installation of ordnance on USS Atlanta, one of the first of the Navy's modern steel warships. In 1888-1890 he was involved in the trials of USS Vesuvius, whose large caliber compressed-air guns were then considered a promising experiment, and was in charge of installing electric lighting in the new cruiser Philadelphia.

During the rest of the 1890s, Lieutenant Fiske was mainly employed at the Bureau of Ordnance and at sea, where he was an officer of the cruiser San Francisco and the gunboats Yorktown and Petrel. While in the latter, he took part in the 1 May 1898 Battle of Manila Bay. Following the Spanish-American War, Fiske continued his service in Philippine waters on board the monitor Monadnock. Promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant Commander in 1899, Commander in 1903 and Captain in 1907, he was an Inspector of Ordnance, Executive Officer of USS Yorktown and the battleship Massachusetts, Commanding Officer of the monitor Arkansas and cruisers Minneapolis and Tennessee, had recruiting duty, served as Captain of the Yard at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, attended the Naval War College and was a member of the Navy's General Board and the Army-Navy Joint Board, among other assignments.

Bradley Fiske became a Rear Admiral in August 1911, subsequently commanding three different divisions of the Atlantic Fleet as well as serving at the Secretary of the Navy's Aide for Inspections. In February 1913 he was appointed Aide for Operations, a post that later became that of Chief of Naval Operations. In this position he forcefully advocated the creation of a Naval general staff and the elevation of the Nation's preparedness for war. Following a year at the Naval War College, Rear Admiral Fiske was retired upon reaching the age of 62 in June 1916. However, his professionally-related activities continued into the mid-1920s with service as President of the U.S. Naval Institute and several sessions of temporary duty with the Navy Department. During his very creative career, Fiske invented a large number of electrical and mechanical devices, with both Naval and civilian uses, and wrote extensively on technical and professional issues. Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske died at New York City on 6 April 1942.

USS Fiske (DE-143), 1943-1944, and USS Fiske (DD/DDR-842), 1945-1980, were named in honor of Rear Admiral Fiske.

This page features nearly all the views we have concerning Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske.


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 78438

Lieutenant Commander Bradley A. Fiske, USN


Halftone reproduction of a portrait photograph taken circa 1902, when he was serving as Inspector of Ordnance at torpedo manufacturer E.W. Bliss & Company.

Copied from "Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps", Seventh Edition, 1902.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 139KB; 620 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 49555

Rear Admiral Bradley Allen Fiske, USN


Portrait photograph, taken October 1912.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 52KB; 550 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 77172-KN

Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, USN


Portrait in oils by Orlando Lagman, 1965.

Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 60KB; 565 x 765 pixels

 


The following photographs concern the activities of Bradley A. Fiske, presented in essentially chronological order. In most of these views, he is but one of many people seen:

Photo #: NH 57410

USS Atlanta
(1886-1912)

View on the ship's quarter deck, looking forward, with her after 8"/30 gun in the foreground. Photographed at the New York Navy Yard, circa 1886.
Lieutenant Bradley A. Fiske is standing just inside the after superstructure bulwark, in center. He was then supervising installation of the ship's ordnance.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 139KB; 690 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 57918

North Atlantic Squadron Encampment, at Camp Osceola, Magnolia Bluff, Pensacola, Florida, April 1888.


Officers of the Second Battalion of Sailors, posed in front of a tent. All are wearing pith helmets.
Lieutenant Bradley A. Fiske is 4th from left, wearing a holstered handgun.
This battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Leavitt C. Logan, who may be the officer seated in the front center, next to the flag.

Photograph from a booklet published by E.H. Hart, New York, circa 1888.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 640 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 94011

USS Tennessee
(Armored Cruiser # 10)

Ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Bradley A. Fiske (right center), and Lieutenant Commander Douglas E. Dismukes (right), with members of King Neptune's party during Equator crossing ceremonies in 1910.

Collection of Harry Gilfillan.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74667

Mexican Intervention, 1914


Fine screen halftone reproduction of a photograph of Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, USN (at right, in civilian dress), with Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger, USN, after delivering special instructions from the War Department to him.
Rear Admiral Badger commanded part of the U.S. Navy force that served off Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1914. Rear Admiral Fiske was Aide for Operations to the Secretary of the Navy at that time.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1971.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 57KB; 485 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 95153

U.S. Atlantic Fleet Change of Command Ceremony


On board USS Wyoming (Battleship # 32), circa 16 September 1914, probably at the New York Navy Yard. Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger is at right, reading his orders as he turns command over to Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher (right center). Looking on, in left center, is Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, aide for operations to the Secretary of the Navy. Some of the others present are identified on Photo # NH 95153 (complete caption).
The original print is stamped: "Photograph by the New York World. Walter C. Harris. Sep. 16 1914"

Collection of Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher. Donated by Mrs. Robert D. Barnhart, 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 500 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 53367

"One Thousand Fifty Years of American History Makers"


Photograph of a gathering of retired Navy and Marine Corps flag officers, taken circa 1923. Those present are (left to right, in front row):
Rear Admiral Yates Stirling (born 1843);
Rear Admiral George C. Remey (born 1841);
Rear Admiral George H. Wadleigh (born 1842); and
Rear Admiral Theodore F. Jewell (born 1844).
(left to right, in middle row):
Rear Admiral William T. Swinburne (born 1847);
Rear Admiral Spencer S. Wood (born 1861);
Rear Admiral Colby M. Chester (born 1844);
Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves (born 1858); and
Rear Admiral Newton E. Mason (born 1850).
(left to right, in middle row):
Major General George F. Elliott (born 1846);
Rear Admiral Warner B. Bayley (born 1845);
Rear Admiral Joseph L. Jayne (born 1863);
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske (born 1854); and
Rear Admiral Reginald F. Nicholson (born 1852).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 465 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 52882

Rear Admiral George C. Remey, USN (Retired)
,
Seated, second from left

With guests, at the celebration of his 85th birthday, Jamestown, Rhode Island, 10 August 1926.
Among the retired U.S. Navy flag officers present are:
Rear Admiral George H. Wadleigh, (seated, center, holding young George Wadleigh);
Rear Admiral Theodore E. Jewell, (seated, 2nd from right);
Rear Admiral Joseph L. Jayne, (seated, right);
Rear Admiral Reginald F. Nicholson, (standing, 4th from left);
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, (standing, 5th from left);
Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, (standing, 3rd from right); and
Rear Admiral Warner B. Bayley, (standing, 2nd from right).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 46725

Retired U.S. Navy flag officers and other retired men


At the home of Rear Admiral Spencer S. Wood, Jamestown, Rhode Island, 7 August 1928. Seated are, left to right:
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske;
Rear Admiral Reginald F. Nicholson;
Rear Admiral William B. Caperton; and
Rear Admiral Joseph L. Jayne.
Standing are, left to right:
Rear Admiral Reginald R. Belknap;
Rear Admiral Thomas P. Magruder;
M.S. Crosby;
Dr. G.C. Stout;
Rear Admiral Dewitt C. Coffman;
Rear Admiral Frank H. Clark;
Rear Admiral Clifford J. Boush;
Rear Admiral Clarence S. Williams;
Commodore James P. Parker; and
Rear Admiral Spencer S. Wood.

Collection of Vice Admiral Clarence S. Williams, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 


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


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Page made 31 August 2005