Henry Braid Wilson

Wilson was a native of Camden, New Jersey. He joined the United States Navy in the latter part of the nineteenth century and continued to serve for over forty years. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1881, His assignments included duties as commanding officer of the USS North Dakota, inspector, senior inspector and president of the Board of Inspection and Survey from November 1913 until May 1916, and commanding officer of the USS Pennsylvania in 1916.

During World War I, he served as commander, Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet and then commander, U.S. Naval Forces, France.[1] After the World War he served as Commander-In-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet 1919–1921, Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Battle Fleet and later superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy 1921–1925. Two notable students of his at the academy were cadets and future Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, class of 1922, and Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, class of 1923. Wilson retired in 1925, following forty-four years of service.

Wilson died in 1954 in New York City; at the time of his death he was the oldest living admiral of the U.S. Navy. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[2]

Wilson's son-in-law was Hoover Administration Secretary of War and Major General Patrick J. Hurley.

• USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7), a guided missile destroyer, was named for him.
• A portion of U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey passing through Camden, New Jersey is named Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henry Braid Wilson.

• History of the Fleet Forces Command, formerly the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
• Camden People - Admiral Henry Braid Wilson Jr.
• short bio from DANFS
• DANFS History of U.S.S. Pennsylvania BB-38
• INSERV Presidents
• US Navy Biography of Admiral Henry B. Wilson