European Squadron
Naval squadron
Unit nameEuropean Squadron
Dates1865–1905
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Navy

The European Squadron, also known as the European Station, was a part of the United States Navy in the late 19th century and the early 1900s. The squadron was originally named the Mediterranean Squadron and renamed following the American Civil War. In 1905, the squadron was absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet.[1]

Second Anglo-Egyptian War

The Egyptian Expedition in June and July 1882 was a response by the United States to the British and French attack on Alexandria during the Anglo-Egyptian War. To protect American citizens and their property within the city, ships of the European Squadron, under Rear Admiral James Nicholson, were sent to Egypt with orders to observe the conflict ashore and make a landing if necessary. British and French forces heavily damaged the city and started a large fire so a force of marines and sailors were landed and they assisted in fire fighting and guarding the American consulate from insurgents.[2] Casper F. Goodrich, who served as an executive officer on the USS Lancaster, commanded the landing party and would later publish an extensive report on the bombardment.[3]

Early 20th century

The European Squadron returned to U.S. waters at the start of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, and did not return to Europe until July 1901, when Admiral Bartlett J. Cromwell was placed in command with the cruiser USS Chicago as flagship. Other ships of the squadron from July 1901 included the cruiser USS Albany and the gunboat USS Nashville.[4]

Commanders

NamePictureRankAssigned
(Orders)		Assumed
(On Station)		Relieved
(Orders)		Relieved
(On Station)		Flagship(s)
RADM Louis M. GoldsboroughFebruary 186518 July 1865[5]186714 July 1867[5]USS Colorado[6]
ADM David G. Farragut?14 July 1867[5]?10 November 1868[5]USS Franklin[7]
CDRE Alexander M. Pennock?10 November 1868[5]?28 February 1869[5]USS Ticonderoga[8]
RADM William Radford[9]?1869[9]?1 March 1870[9]USS Franklin[7]
RADM Oliver S. Glisson[8]?August 1870[8]?January 1871[8]USS Franklin[8]
RADM Charles S. Boggs[8]?January 1871[8]?1 January 1872Franklin
USS Plymouth
USS Brooklyn[8]
RADM James Alden Jr.?1 January 1872[10]?2 June 1873[10]USS Wabash[11]
Brooklyn[8]
RADM Augustus Case?1873[12]?1875[12]Franklin
Wabash[8]
RADM John L. Worden?1875[13]?5 October 1877[8]Franklin
USS Marion
USS Trenton[8]
RADM William E. Le Roy[8]?5 October 1877[8]?23 January 1879Trenton[8]
CAPT John Lee Davis
(pro tem)[8]		?23 January 1879[8]?February 1879Trenton[8]
RADM John C. Howell[14]1878February 1879[8]?16 September 1881Trenton
USS Quinnebaug
USS Wyoming[8]
RADM James W. Nicholson?16 September 1881[15]February 1883[15]10 March 1883USS Lancaster[8]
RADM Charles H. Baldwin?10 March 1883[16]?September 1884Lancaster[8]
RADM Earl English?September 1884[8]?May/June 1885Lancaster[8]
RADM Samuel Rhoads Franklin?May/June 1885[8]20 July 1887[17]24 August 1887[18]USS Pensacola[8]
RADM James A. Greer?1887[19]?1889[19]?
Unknown???1889?1893?
RADM Henry ErbenJune 1893[20]?August 1894[20]?USS Chicago[21]
RADM William A. Kirkland[22]April 1894[20]November 1895[20]USS San Francisco[23]
RADM Thomas O. Selfridge Jr.[24]November 1895[20]February 1898[20]USS Minneapolis[25]
RADM John Adams HowellJanuary 1898[20]April 1898[20]?
The European Squadron returned to U.S. waters at the start of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, and did not return until July 1901.
RADM Bartlett J. Cromwell?July 19019 February 1902[26]9 February 1902[27]USS Chicago[28]
CAPT Joseph E. Craig
(Senior Officer Present)[29]		?9 February 1902?April 1902?
RADM Arent S. CrowninshieldMarch 1902[26]30 April 1902[30]3 March 1903[31]20 March 1903[32]USS Illinois[33]
CAPT James Henry Dayton
(Senior Officer Present)[32]		?20 March 1903?28 April 1903?
RADM Charles S. Cotton?28 April 1903[32]?16 February 1904USS Kearsarge
(June–July 1903)[34]
USS Brooklyn[35]
CAPT Harry Knox
(Senior Officer Present)[36]		?16 February 1904?28 March 1904Brooklyn
RADM Joseph Coghlan???20 April 1904[36]?
RADM Theodore Frelinghuysen Jewell?20 April 1904[36]??USS Olympia
In 1905 the European Squadron was absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet.

References

  1. ^ For a general history of the post Civil War period, see William N. Still Jr., American Sea Power in the Old World: the United States Navy in European and Near Eastern waters, 1865-1917, (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1980).
  2. ^ "USS Nipsic (1879–1913) – Relics and Miscellaneous Views". Naval History & Heritage Command. 2002. Archived from the original on 4 April 2002. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  3. ^ Goodrich, Caspar F. (Caspar Frederick) (1885). Report of the British naval and military operations in Egypt, 1882. Washington, Govt. Print. Off.
  4. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". No. 36501. 8 July 1901. p. 6.
  5. ^ Eicher, John H. & Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. California: Stanford University Press. p. 864. ISBN 9780804736411.
  6. ^ "USS Colorado". 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  7. ^ "USS Franklin". 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  8. ^ "RG45: Appendix B. List of Volumes of Letters Received by the Secretary of the Navy From Officers Commanding Squadrons". Naval History & Heritage Command. 2005. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Rear Admiral William Radford, USN (1808–1890)". Destroyer History Foundation. 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  10. ^ "USS Alden". 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  11. ^ "USS Wabash". 30 July 2001. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  12. ^ "USS Case". 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  13. ^ "Worden, John L. (1818–1897)". Naval History & Heritage Command. 2006. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Rear Admiral John C. Howell". Naval History & Heritage Command. 2009. Archived from the original on 4 August 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  15. ^ "USS Nicholson". 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  16. ^ "USS Lancaster". 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  17. ^ Nott, Charles C. & Hopkins, Archibald (1890). Cases Decided in the Court of Claims of the United States, at the Term of 1893–94. Washington, D.C.: W.H. & O.H. Morrison. pp. 6–7.
  18. ^ United States Catholic Historical Society (1911). Historical Records and Studies. Part I, Volume VI. New York: United States Catholic Historical Society. p. 197.
  19. ^ "USS Greer". 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  20. ^ "Flag Assignments 1890–1900". fleetorganization.com. 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  21. ^ "Proceedings". 1941.
  22. ^ "William Alexander Kirkland Papers". Joyner Library – East Carolina University. 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  23. ^ "Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy". 1895.
  24. ^ "USS Selfridge". 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  25. ^ "USS Minneapolis". 2004. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  26. ^ "Will Succeed Crowninshield". San Francisco Call. 27 October 1901. p. 21. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  27. ^ President, United States (1903). "The Abridgment: Containing Messages of the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress with Reports of Departments and Selections from Accompanying Papers"
  28. ^ "Finding Aid Viewer"
  29. ^ "Commanders of the Sixth Fleet". USS Little Rock Association. 2012. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  30. ^ "Register of the commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and reserve officers on active duty". archive.org. 1 January 1903. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  31. ^ "The Rock Island Argus 4 March 1903 — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections"
  32. ^ "Annual Reports of the Navy Department". 1903.
  33. ^ "All Hands". 1960.
  34. ^ "USS Kearsarge – European Cruise, 1903". history.navy.mil. 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  35. ^ "Squadron's Lisbon Visit: King Charles Inspects the Brooklyn and Toasts the President — Tells Admiral Cotton That He Will Cable His Thanks to Mr. Roosevelt". The New York Times. 2 August 1903. p. 5. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  36. ^ "Annual Reports of the Navy Department". 1904.