James Harrison Oliver

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Harrison Oliver (1857 April 6, 1928) was a Rear

Admiral and member of the Naval Board of Strategy during James Harrison Oliver
World War I. He was also the first military Governor of the
United States Virgin Islands from 1917 to 1919. He was
often referred to as J. H. Oliver.

Contents
1 Biography
2 Resignation from the Navy
3 Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Biography
Born 1857
Oliver was born in Houston County, Georgia. He graduated Houston County, Georgia
from Washington and Lee University in 1872 and the Died 6 April 1928 (aged 7071)
United States Naval Academy in 1877. In 1893, he moved Shirley Plantation, Virginia
to Shirley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia and married; Allegiance United States
this would remain his home, while not serving in the Navy,
for the remainder of his life. Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 18771921
Resignation from the Navy Rank Rear Admiral
Commands held USS Culgoa
In 1904, while a Lieutenant Commander commanding the
USS Culgoa, his ship was involved in a collision with a Battles/wars World War I
schooner in Delaware Bay which resulted in the deaths of
29 crewmembers of the schooner. He was arrested and to be court-martialed, but the trial was delayed for more
than a year while he remained in command of his shipdespite being technically under arrest. (In Navy
tradition, he had also been stripped of his sworda humiliation.) He was subsequently acquitted "with honor".
At the ceremony officially returning his sword to him, he broke the sword and threw it into the ocean and
immediately resigned from the Navy. While retired, he was briefly appointed as the Inspector of the Fourteenth
Lighthouse District in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt formally reinstated his
commission, reportedly saying (with respect to his resignation) "I'd have done the same thing myself." When
reinstated, he was simultaneously promoted to Commander.

He was promoted to Captain in 1910 and Rear Admiral in 1916, just prior to the United States entrance into
World War I. He was subsequently elevated to Chief of Naval Intelligence by 1917.

Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands

On March 28, 1917, he was appointed as Governor of the United States Virgin Islands by President Woodrow
Wilson. (Edwin Taylor Pollock was made acting-Governor until his arrival.) He remained as Governor for two
years, until 1919.
Oliver was quickly granted a loan of $200,000 ($3.4 million, adjusted for inflation) by the government of the
United States for expenses relating to the occupation, including the building of fortifications on the island and
the stationing of troops. Being disappointed with the quality of native educators, he also requested that
additional instructors be sent from the mainland.

From 1919 until the end of the war, Oliver served on the Naval Board of Strategy. Oliver retired from the Navy
in January 1921. He died of heart disease in 1928 at his home in Virginia.

See also
References
"Orders to Naval Officers". The Washington Post. July 27, 1905. p. 7. (Announcing his retirement /
resignation.)
"Orders to Naval Officers". The Washington Post. September 23, 1905. p. 4. (Appointment as inspector,
listed as retired.)
"Army Orders". The Washington Post. August 7, 1906. p. 3. (Appointment as Commander.)
"Oliver to Govern our New Islands". The New York Times. March 29, 1917. p. 12.
"Under The Stars And Stripes The Virgin Islands Are A Disappointment To The Natives". Current
Opinion. New York City. LXIV (2): 152153. February 1918.
"$200,000 For Virgin Islands.; Wilson Authorizes Gov. Oliver To Spend Sum "In His Discretion." ". The
Washington Post. July 28, 1918. p. ES4.
"Admiral J.H. Oliver Is Dead In Virginia". The New York Times. April 7, 1928. p. 11.
"Admiral Oliver, Who Broke Sword and Resigned, Dies". The Washington Post. April 7, 1928. p. 1.
"Oliver Laid To Rest While Guns Salute". The Atlanta Constitution. April 8, 1928. p. 17A.

External links
Governor of the U.S. Virgin
Preceded by Succeeded by
Islands
Edwin Taylor Pollock Joseph Wallace Oman
19171919

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Harrison_Oliver&oldid=707732173"

Categories: American military personnel of World War I 1857 births 1928 deaths
People from Houston County, Georgia Governors of the United States Virgin Islands
United States Navy admirals Directors of the Office of Naval Intelligence

This page was last edited on 1 March 2016, at 13:33.

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