Templin Potts

Templin Morris Potts (November 1, 1855 – March 22, 1927) was a United States Navy Captain and the 11th Naval Governor of Guam. He held many important posts during his time in the Navy, including Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Naval attaché to Kaiser Wilhelm II, and aid for naval personnel. During the Spanish–American War, he participated in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, after which he commanded a number of ships. In 1913, he was forced into retirement after not having spent a large enough portion of his service at sea. This forced retirement sparked outrage from many, and led to letters and marches of protest. A United States Senator even introduced a bill in Congress to have him re-instated. Though these efforts all ultimately failed, they led to greater scrutiny of the retirement board. As governor, he forbade the men under his command to marry native Chamorro women and increased funding to fight disease on Guam.

Captain
Templin Morris Potts
Captain Templin Potts
11th Naval Governor of Guam
In office
December 3, 1906 – October 3, 1907
Preceded byLuke McNamee
Succeeded byLuke McNamee
14th Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence
In office
December 1909 – January 1912
Preceded byCharles E. Vreeland
Succeeded byThomas S. Rodgers
Personal details
BornNovember 1, 1855
Washington, D.C.
DiedMarch 22, 1927(1927-03-22) (aged 71)
Pasadena, California
Nationality United States
Spouse(s)Anna Powers Cash Potts, Marie Charlier Potts
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy Seal United States Navy
Rank Captain
CommandsUSS Des Moines (CL-17); USS Georgia (BB-15); Office of Naval Intelligence; USS Louisiana (BB-19)
Battles/warsBattle of Santiago de Cuba

Early life

Potts was born on November 1, 1855 in Washington, D.C. Potts' father was John F. C. Potts. Potts mother was Louisa Elizabeth (nee Rose) Potts.[1][2] Potts received his education in the Washington area private school system.[2]

Education

On June 20, 1876, Potts graduated from the United States Naval Academy.[3][4]

Career

In 1877, Potts served aboard USS Plymouth as a midshipman.[5] He also served aboard USS Swatara in 1879 and USS Palos from 1879 to 1892.[4] During the Spanish–American War, he served aboard USS Massachusetts, where he participated in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.[3] From 1885 to 1887, he served on USS Pensacola.[4]

On October 1, 1902, as lieutenant commander, Potts served as Naval attaché to Rome, Italy, Vienna, Austria, and Berlin, Germany, until December 30, 1904.[6][7]

He served as commanding officer of USS Des Moines and of USS Georgia in 1908.[2] That same year, he obtained the rank of Captain.[3]

On December 17, 1909, Potts became the Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence, until January 25, 1912.[6]

In 1911, he acted as the official United States representative for the reception of Japanese Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō.[8] Soon after, he became Navy aid for personnel.[9]

On May 3, 1913, Potts commanded USS Louisiana, until July 2, 1913.[10][11] After this command, Potts was forced into retirement. The Captain had passed his examination for rear admiral, but had been let go nonetheless, as he had not spent at least half of his time as captain at sea.[12][13][14] His case drew national attention after he saved Louisiana from flooding following a valve blowout in the ship's starboard engine room that left a hole in the ship's hull.[11] He consulted his lawyers about the possibility of reinstatement, and a group of sailors protested the forced retirement through demonstrations and letter-writing,[11] and a Senator even introduced a bill in Congress to reinstate him with the rank of Rear Admiral.[15] Despite the criticism, the Navy did not reinstate him.[3]

Governorship

Potts served as Governor of Guam from December 3, 1906 to October 3, 1907.[16] Potts sought to separate whites from the native Chamorro population by denouncing interracial marriage, calling it "degenerating to the whites", and threatened to forcibly discharge any military man who married a native Guamanian woman.[17] He successfully obtained additional funding from Congress to combat outbreaks of leprosy and yaws on the island.[18]

Personal life

On February 6, 1883, Potts married Anna Powers Cash. They had a son, Templin Morris Powers Potts. On May 10, 1902, Potts married Mrs. Marie Alden Brown (nee Charlier) (maiden), in a civil ceremony, in Berlin, Germany.[19]

On November 21, 1918, Potts' wife, Marie Charlier Potts (died 1937), became a ship sponsor of USS Farragut (DD-300).[20][21]

On March 22, 1927, Potts died in Pasadena, California. Potts is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia.[1][3][22]

References
  1. "Templin Morris Potts". geni.com. November 1855. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  2. Distinguished Successful Americans of Our Day: Containing Biographies of Prominent Americans Now Living. Chicago, Illinois: Successful Americans. 1912. p. 455. Retrieved 9 November 2010. Templin Morris Potts.
  3. "Capt. Templin M. Potts: Retired Navy Officer, Former Governor of Guam, Is Dead". The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. 23 March 1927. p. 25.
  4. Hamersly, Lewis Randolph (1898). The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. p. 187. Retrieved 11 November 2010. Templin m Potts.
  5. "USS Plymouth (1869-1884)". Online Library of Selected Images. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. 19 March 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  6. "Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, 1798-1921 - Records of the Office of Naval Intelligence, 1887-1927". navy.mil. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  7. "The Naval Attache at Berlin: Report that the Kaiser Will Not Receive Lieut. Commander Potts Untrue" (PDF). The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. 27 May 1902. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  8. "Japan's Navy Chief Here Next Month" (PDF). The New York Times Company. New York City. The New York Times Company. 16 July 1911. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  9. Fiske, Bradley (1919). From Midshipman to Rear-Admiral. The Century Company. p. 531. Retrieved 11 November 2010. Templin m Potts.
  10. "BB-19 USS LOUISIANA". navsource.org. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  11. "Sailors Appeal to Capt. Potts" (PDF). The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. 6 July 1913. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  12. "Sailors Honor Capt. Potts" (PDF). The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. 4 July 1913. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  13. "Urge Potts Appeal To End 'Plucking'" (PDF). The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. 9 July 1913. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  14. "FOURTEEN NAVAL OFFICERS OF HIGH RANK "PLUCKED"". ucr.edu. San Francisco Call, Volume 114, Number 32. July 2, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  15. "Bill to Save Capt. Potts" (PDF). The New York Times Company. New York City. The New York Times Company. 20 July 1913. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  16. "Naval Era Governors of Guam". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  17. Hattori, Anne Perez (2004). "Sanitary Confinement: Guam and the US Navy, 1898—1941". Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii. p. 22. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  18. Cunningham, Lawrence; Janice Beaty (2001). A History of Guam. Hawaii: Bess Press. p. 197. ISBN 1-57306-047-X. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  19. "Lieut. Com. Potts a Bridegroom: Naval Attache in Berlin Married to Mrs. Alden Brown" (PDF). The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. 11 May 1902. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  20. Ships of the United States Navy and Their Sponsors, 1913-1923. The Plimpton Press. 1925. p. 70. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  21. "Farragut II (Destroyer No. 300), 1920-1930". navily.mil. February 24, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  22. "Templin Morris Potts Captain, United States Navy". arlingtoncemetery.net. 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
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