William Wirt Kimball

William Wirt Kimball (January 9, 1848 – January 26, 1930) was a U.S. naval officer and an early pioneer in the development of submarines.

William Wirt Kimball
Born	January 9, 1848 Paris, Maine
Died	January 26, 1930 (aged 82) Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1869–1910
Rank	Rear Admiral
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War

Kimball at top left and with other officers on U.S. Navy ship to Nicaragua in this newspaper compilation, 1909

Biography

Kimball was born in Paris, Maine. In 1869 he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.

After serving on early navy torpedo boats, Kimball designed machine guns and armored cars, and switched to the development of submarines in the 1890s.

He commanded the Atlantic torpedo-boat fleet in the Spanish–American War.

In May 1906, he served as the first commander of the battleship New Jersey. In 1908, Kimball became rear admiral, and commanded expeditionary forces to Nicaragua in 1909. In 1910, he retired from active duty.

He died in Washington, D.C. on January 26, 1930, at the age of 82.

References

• "Biographies". Submarine Pioneers. Submarine Warfare Division, United States Navy. Retrieved 2007-04-12.

External links

• "Submarine Pioneers". Submarine Warfare Division, United States Navy. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
• John Baker. "Effects of the Press on Spanish-American Relations in 1898". Retrieved 2007-04-12.