Joseph Eliot Austin

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Commander U.S.N.R. (retired) Joseph Eliot Austin, (22 December, 1885 – 26 October, 1964) served in the United States Navy.

Life & Career

Austin had what can best be described as a checkered naval career. Born in New York, he was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state as a member of the Class of 1908. At the start of his first class year, he was recommended for dismissal for being absent without leave during the midshipman's practice cruise. However, he was shown mercy and was allowed to graduate with his class, placing nearly last in the class.[1][2][3]

In October, 1909, while serving on armoured cruiser South Dakota, he was "hastily" married in Hawaii to a minister's daughter. Though regulations prohibited an Academy graduate from getting married before serving two years on active duty, Austin claimed to have permission from his captain. While the marriage lasted over 50 years, his career seemingly ended in two months, as he was dropped from the Navy in December as a result of his marriage.[4][5]

However, in early 1915 a special Act of Congress restored him to the Navy, to rank at the bottom of his class. Some accounts credited his wife with lobbying Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to get support for the legislation.[6][7]

Restored to duty as an Ensign to date from 4 March, 1915, Austin served first aboard auxiliary cruiser Prairie.[8] Promoted along with his class to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 4 March, 1916, by early 1917 Austin had been ordered to submarine training.[9]

During World War I Austin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 5 June, 1917. He served aboard, and may have commanded, submarine G-2.[10][11] After brief service in England, and having been promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Commander on 1 July, 1918, in October, 1918 he became the first commanding officer of submarine O-12.[12][13]

Austin resigned his commission on 9 December, 1919 and joined the U.S.N.R.F. the next day.[14] He apparently went to work for the Lake Torpedo Company in Connecticut and was on board submarine S-48 supervising per-commissioning trials when the boat sank in December, 1921. Fortunately all aboard were rescued.[15][16]

Austin was called to active duty in World War II, and was apparently promoted to the rank of Commander on 27 August, 1943, but little additional information has been found on this part of his career.


See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Robert A. White 		Captain of U.S.S. G-2
1918 		Succeeded by
Burton W. Chippendale
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of U.S.S. O-12
18 Oct, 1918[17] – after 1 Apr, 1919[18] 		Succeeded by
Edward W. Wunch

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Raleigh Times 4 September, 1907 p. 3.
  2. ↑ Baltimore Sun 15 September, 1907 p. 2.
  3. ↑ Baltimore Sun 3 June, 1908 p. 9.
  4. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle 15 Oct 1909 p. 3.
  5. ↑ Philadelphia Inquirer 25 December, 1909 p. 3
  6. ↑ Tampa Bay Times 4 August, 1914 p. 8.
  7. ↑ Washington Times 20 March, 1915 p. 14.
  8. ↑ Register of Officers, 1916. pp. 70-71.
  9. ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. pp. 48-49.
  10. ↑ Register of Officers, 1918. p. 44.
  11. ↑ Navy Directory 1 March, 1918 p. 8.
  12. ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 46-47.
  13. ↑ Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 pp. 15, 510.
  14. ↑ Register of Officers, 1920. p. 450.
  15. ↑ Honolulu Star Bulletin 12 May, 1921 p. 12.
  16. ↑ Bridgeport Post 3 December, 1961 p. 66.
  17. ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 46-47.
  18. ↑ Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 pp. 15, 510.

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