Robert Forbes Bradford
Captain Robert Forbes Bradford, (9 December, 1836 – 9 January, 1892) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Bradford was born in Massachusetts and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state, graduating with the Class of 1856.
Bradford was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 22 December, 1860, and to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 18 July, 1862.[1] During the Civil War he served on blockade duty, and then as an instructor at the Naval Academy, where he remained after the end of hostilities. He was appointed to command screw gunboat Aroostook from 1868 to 1869. One source indicates he also commanded side-wheel gunboat Ashuelot at around this same time.[2][3]
Bradford was promoted to the rank of Commander on 3 July, 1870.[4] In 1875, he served as Navigation Officer at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. He then went to sea as the first commanding officer of screw sloop Marion for three years from January, 1876.[5][6]
He returned to the Portsmouth Navy Yard when he served as Ordnance and Navigation Officer from 1879 to 1882.[7][8] Bradford was promoted to the rank of Captain on 15 October, 1881 while at Portsmouth.[9]
Bradford was then appointed to command screw frigate Tennessee from 1882 to 1883, and for part of this time was also Fleet Captain on the North Atlantic Station.[10] In 1887 he returned once again to Portsmouth, this time as Commandant, serving until 1889.[11][12]
Bradford was then appointed the first commanding officer of protected cruiser Philadelphia in 1890, but was soon relieved for health reasons.[13][14]
The remainder of Bradford's career was spent ashore. He was found dead in his bed in Portsmouth on 9 January, 1892.[15][16]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by John C. Febiger |
Captain of U.S.S. Ashuelot 1869[17] |
Succeeded by Edmund O. Matthews |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of U.S.S. Marion 12 Jan, 1876[18] – Jan, 1879[19] |
Succeeded by Silas W. Terry |
| Preceded by Edwin M. Shepard |
Ordnance Officer, Navy Yard, Portsmouth 1879[20] – 1881[21] |
Succeeded by Charles J. Barclay |
| Preceded by David B. Harmony |
Captain of U.S.S. Tennessee Jul, 1882[22] – Sep, 1883[23] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Clark H. Wells |
Commandant, Navy Yard, Portsmouth 8 Feb, 1887[24] – 1 Oct, 1889[25] |
Succeeded by Joseph S. Skerrett |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of U.S.S. Philadelphia 28 Jul, 1890[26] – 28 Aug, 1890[27] |
Succeeded by Albert S. Barker |
Footnotes
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1889. pp. 6-7.
- ↑ Register of Officers, July, 1868. p. 12.
- ↑ Boston Globe 6 June, 1928 p. 8.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1876. pp. 16-17.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1876. pp. 16, 154.
- ↑ New York Times 28 January, 1879, p. 1.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1880. p. 144.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1882. p. 152.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1883. pp. 14-15.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1883. pp. 14, 156.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1889. p. 6.
- ↑ Passaic Daily News 11 September, 1889 p. 1.
- ↑ New York Times 29 July, 1890 p. 2.
- ↑ Brooklyn Daily Eagle 28 August, 1890 p. 3
- ↑ Baltimore Sun 11 January, 1892 p. 1.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1893. p. 134.
- ↑ Boston Globe 6 June, 1928 p. 8.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1876. p. 16, 154.
- ↑ New York Times 28 January, 1879, p. 1.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1880. p. 144.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1882. p. 152.
- ↑ Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, MA) 29 July, 1882 p. 2.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1884. p. 13.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1889. p. 6.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1890. p. 6.
- ↑ New York Times 29 July, 1890 p. 2.
- ↑ Brooklyn Daily Eagle 28 August, 1890 p. 3
