# European Squadron

The European Squadron, also known as the European Station, was a part of the United States Navy in the late 19th century and the early 1900s. The squadron was originally named the Mediterranean Squadron and renamed following the American Civil War. In 1905, the squadron was absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet.

## Second Anglo-Egyptian War

The Egyptian Expedition in June and July 1882 was a response by the United States to the British and French attack on Alexandria during the Anglo-Egyptian War. To protect American citizens and their property within the city, ships of the European Squadron, under Rear Admiral James Nicholson, were sent to Egypt with orders to observe the conflict ashore and make a landing if necessary. British and French forces heavily damaged the city and started a large fire so a force of marines and sailors were landed and they assisted in fire fighting and guarding the American consulate from insurgents. Casper F. Goodrich, who served as an executive officer on the USS Lancaster, commanded the landing party and would later publish an extensive report on the bombardment.

## Early 20th century

The European Squadron returned to U.S. waters at the start of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, and did not return to Europe until July 1901, when Admiral Bartlett J. Cromwell was placed in command with the cruiser USS Chicago as flagship. Other ships of the squadron from July 1901 included the cruiser USS Albany and the gunboat USS Nashville.

## Commanders

| Name | Rank | Assigned (Orders) | Assumed (On Station) | Relieved (Orders) | Relieved (On Station) | Flagship(s) |
| RADM Louis M. Goldsborough | | February 1865 | 18 July 1865 | 1867 | 14 July 1867 | Colorado |
| ADM David G. Farragut | | ? | 14 July 1867 | ? | 10 November 1868 | Franklin |
| CDRE Alexander M. Pennock | | ? | 10 November 1868 | ? | 28 February 1869 | Ticonderoga |
| RADM William Radford | | ? | 1869 | ? | 1 March 1870 | Franklin |
| RADM Oliver S. Glisson | | ? | August 1870 | ? | January 1871 | Franklin |
| RADM Charles S. Boggs | | ? | January 1871 | ? | 1 January 1872 | Franklin Plymouth Brooklyn |
| RADM James Alden Jr. | | ? | 1 January 1872 | ? | 2 June 1873 | Wabash Brooklyn |
| RADM Augustus Case | | ? | 1873 | ? | 1875 | Franklin Wabash |
| RADM John L. Worden | | ? | 1875 | ? | 5 October 1877 | Franklin Marion Trenton |
| RADM William E. Le Roy | | ? | 5 October 1877 | ? | 23 January 1879 | Trenton |
| CAPT John Lee Davis (pro tem) | | ? | 23 January 1879 | ? | February 1879 | Trenton |
| RADM John C. Howell | | 1878 | February 1879 | ? | 16 September 1881 | Trenton Quinnebaug Wyoming |
| RADM James W. Nicholson | | ? | 16 September 1881 | February 1883 | 10 March 1883 | Lancaster |
| RADM Charles H. Baldwin | | ? | 10 March 1883 | ? | September 1884 | Lancaster |
| RADM Earl English | | ? | September 1884 | ? | May/June 1885 | Lancaster |
| RADM Samuel Rhoads Franklin | | ? | May/June 1885 | 20 July 1887 | 24 August 1887 | Pensacola |
| RADM James A. Greer | | ? | 1887 | ? | 1889 | ? |
| Unknown? | ? | ? | 1889 | ? | 1893 | ? |
| RADM Henry Erben | | June 1893 | ? | August 1894 | ? | Chicago |
| RADM William A. Kirkland | | April 1894 | | November 1895 | | San Francisco |
| RADM Thomas O. Selfridge Jr. | | November 1895 | | February 1898 | | Minneapolis |
| RADM John Adams Howell | | January 1898 | | April 1898 | | ? |
| The European Squadron returned to U.S. waters at the start of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, and did not return until July 1901. ||||||||
| RADM Bartlett J. Cromwell | | ? | July 1901 | 9 February 1902 | 9 February 1902 | Chicago |
| CAPT Joseph E. Craig (Senior Officer Present) | | ? | 9 February 1902 | ? | April 1902 | ? |
| RADM Arent S. Crowninshield | | March 1902 | 30 April 1902 | 3 March 1903 | 20 March 1903 | Illinois |
| CAPT James Henry Dayton (Senior Officer Present) | | ? | 20 March 1903 | ? | 28 April 1903 | ? |
| RADM Charles S. Cotton | | ? | 28 April 1903 | ? | 16 February 1904 | Kearsarge (June–July 1903) Brooklyn |
| CAPT Harry Knox (Senior Officer Present) | | ? | 16 February 1904 | ? | 28 March 1904 | Brooklyn |
| RADM Joseph Coghlan | | ? | ? | ? | 20 April 1904 | ? |
| RADM Theodore Frelinghuysen Jewell | | ? | 20 April 1904 | ? | ? | Olympia |
| In 1905 the European Squadron was absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet. ||||||||