William Verbeck

William Verbeck (January 18, 1861 - August 24, 1930) was a Dutch–American educator and soldier. He served as head of the St. John's Military Academy in New York. He also served as Adjutant General of New York, commander of the New York National Guard from June 1, 1910, to January 1, 1913, and was given the rank of Brigadier General.

William Verbeck
Verbeck in 1911
Born(1861-01-16)January 16, 1861
Nagasaki, Japan
DiedAugust 24, 1930(1930-08-24) (aged 69)
Manlius, New York
EducationImperial University of Japan[1]
OccupationSoldier
Known forScouting
SpouseKatherine Jordan
ChildrenGuido, Fridolin, Karl and William

Early life and education
Verbeck with Assistant secretary of state Chandler Hale, Admiral Togo; , Major General Frederick D. Grant on board the Lusitania[2]

Verbeck was born in Nagasaki, Japan, on January 18, 1861, the son of Guido Verbeck and Maria Verbeck (née Manion).[1] His father worked in Nagasaki as a missionary and educator for the Dutch Reformed Church. He was one of six brothers and three sisters. His brother was the cartoonist, Gustave Verbeek.[3]

In 1879, at the age of 18, Verbeck emigrated to the United States.[1] He enrolled in the California Military Academy.[4] He served in the Fifth California Infantry, rising to the rank of major.[5]

Career

Following in his father's footsteps, Verbeck began teaching at the Saint Matthew's Hall, in San Mateo, California, where he taught for two years.[1] He moved to New York state to work with C.J. Wright at the Cayuga Lake Military Academy and the Peekskill Military Academy.[1] He moved to St. John's Academy, where he became its president, serving there until he became the Adjutant General of New York.[6][1] He served as Adjutant General of New York, commander of the New York National Guard, from June 1, 1910, to January 1, 1913, and was given the rank of Brigadier General.[7]

Verbeck led the National Scouts of America (NSA), running summer camps for boys at Camp Massawepie in conjunction with the Manlius School.[8] Upon the merger of the NSA with the Boy Scouts of America he briefly served as a National Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America.[9][10]

Personal life

He married Katherine Jordan on July 28, 1886.[11] They had three children: Guido Fridolin, Karl Heinrich Willem and William Jordan.[1] In 1927, Verbeck was made a Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy. He was granted American citizenship on June 9, 1929, in an Act of Congress.[11]

He died on August 24, 1930, of heart disease at his home in Manlius.[11]

References
  1. Hills, Frederick Simon (1910). New York state men : biographic studies and character portraits. Argus Company. p. 110.
  2. "ADMIRAL TOGO HERE AS NATION'S GUEST; Japanese Naval Hero Says He Is Happy at Last in Seeing America". New York Times. 1911-08-04.
  3. Hommes, James Mitchell (2014-07-11). VERBECK OF JAPAN: GUIDO F. VERBECK AS PIONEER MISSIONARY, OYATOI GAIKOKUJIN, AND "FOREIGN HERO" (PDF) (Thesis). University of Pittsburgh. p. 439.
  4. The New York Red Book. Williams Press. 1912. p. 78.
  5. "History of the 5th Infantry Battalion, National Guard of California: 1879-1885" (PDF). California State Military Museums. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
  6. "William Jordan Verbeck Papers A description of the collection at Syracuse University". Syracuse University Libraries. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  7. Hugo, Francis M. (1919). Manual for Use of the Legislature of the State of New York. Albany, NY: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 465. New York Secretary of State
  8. "New Member Note" (PDF). Beaver Tales. Massawepie Staff Alumni Association. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  9. Randy Worcester (2010). Commissioner Service, Our First Hundred Years (PDF). Middle Tennessee Council.
  10. Boys' Life. Boy Scouts of America, Inc. September 1912. p. 9.
  11. "William Verbeck, Educator, is Dead; General and Former Commander of New York National Guard, Succumbs at 69. Headed Manlius School - In 1927 He Was Made Commander of Crown of Italy -- Received Citizenship by Legislative Act". The New York Times. 1930-08-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
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