The New York herald., 1878-11-30
OBITUARY..
COMMODORE WILLIAM p sprcER, UNITED STATES

COMMODORE WILLIAM p. sPIcER, UNITED STATES
NAVY.
At his residence. near Boston, Mass, died yester-
day, Commodore William T. Spicer, OF the tnited
States Navy. Commodore Spicer was appointed MI I
shipman in the navy June IL 1889, when still pos'
being accredited to New York his native place. ne
entered the navy at period before the establishment
of the Naval Academy system, and was, as conehi-
porary of his remarked yesterday, reeter as mia-
shipmcn were then called He was an officer OF the
old school. and prded himself on his prac-
tical experience in attaining thorough knowledge
of the nautical profession when youth. In
August 1892 he was ordered TO making his first
voyage the United States brig Dolphin on the west
coast of Africa IN July of the following year Mid
shipman spicer was detached from the Dolphin. and
in December ls4o he was assigned to the old receiy
ing ship North Carolina The North Carolina WAS
then living the Brooklyn Navy Yard and at that
time considered one of the finest vessels in the
In July. ls4l. he ordered to service With the
North and the South Pacific squadrons. where
he remained from 1871 until 1874. he
was next stationed at the Naval school,
Philadelphia from September Of the latter
year to June, 1sA5 on July .. lsij. young Spcer
passed credtable examination was promoted to the
rank of passed nlidshpman and attached to the brig
which was then the coast of Africa. After cruis
ing in that station for two years he returned to New
York and again assigned To duty on board the
North Carolina, where he remained from February,
Is4s to September OF the following year, His next
assignment to the steamer Nautilus OF the Coast
Survey Service. He was Oh that duty from
MAY TO December, 1850 when he was or
dcred to the United States sloop,of-war sara
nae and subsequently, to the Vixen. then
attached to the Gulf squadron. There he
rendered service his government from September.
1851 10 June. 1852 He was next assigned to the
Nal, he
Cumberland and subsequently on the ill-starred
sloop-of-war Levant He was on the Mediterranean
rank of master June %. 1853 and received his com
mission as lieutenant in the navy on February
25 After brief visit TO his home the Lieutenant
with the European squadron from October. 1886,
10 August. 1855 In September of the latter year he
placed on shore duty. 10 which assignment his
long and almost continuous sea service we'll
entitled him. He was at the Boston Navy
Yard from that month till May. 1850.
In the spring of that year the stram
frigate Niagara was fitted out for China and Japan
and Spicer ordered to her The Niagara turned
from the Asiatic station in the early part of the rebel
hon and rendered efficient service on the blockade in
the Gulf till August 1862. While serving in the Gulf
he received his commission lieutenant commander
He next placed on duty at the Charesown Mass.
Navy Yard till February 1863. when he was promoted
to the rank of commander From April.
20 9as a hrarery ne ap5 exscutiSe ahtr
while taking part in the stirring scenes in
which the North Atlantic blockading squadron par
ticipated Commander Spicer then served alternately
as commander Of the gunboats Cambridge and the
Quaker City and took part in the assaults on Fort
Fisher December - TO y. He next attached TO
the Portsmouth Navy Yard and subsequently took
command of the sloop-of-war Chicopee and was with
her in the Gut squadron for one year From June.
1867, July. 1863 he i'll command OF the Dakota
in the South Pacific, and was at the Charlestown
Mass Navy Yard from September Of that year till
September. 1872. He was made captain in the navy
on April ~. 1870 and had command of the monitor
Terror i'll the Gulf squadron, from January to July
1873. When the difficulties arose with spain out of
he virginius affair Captain Spicer placed in COM
mand of the monitor Dictator which vessel remained
In the Gulf stations from January. 1874, to Feb
ruary, 1875. He subsequently, for sixteen
months. in command Of the naval rendezvous, Bos-
ton. ON April %. 1877 he WAS promoted to Commo-
dore aud in June last was assigned to the command
Of the Charlestown Navy Yard. to relieve Commo-
dore Parker. At that time he was suffering consider
ably from efusion Of water ON the chest,
and prostrated that he was compelled
to receive the officers Of the station while confined
to his bed. He caught cold il is said, while on board
summer at one time he was so i'll that the attend
ing physicians despaired OF his recovery. He was
possessed of moderate means. and lived in quiet
and unpretentious house Winchester. Boston.
He leaves q widow and eight children, his eldest son
being Lieutenant iii the United States Marine corps
Commodore Nicholson, commandant of the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. in speaking Of the deceased yesterday.
said. "He Was genial and popular gentleman. He
was quite poet and was very fend or iaasiS. -.
Minnesota who was IN intimate friend OF Conmos
dore spicer. said the deceased was man OF great
poetic feeling and was also good musician. Apart
from that he had y natural genius for reciting the
lines of the best actors. There nothing smb-
with the navy. Among the ballads composed by
the deceased are the folowing:-"Abs Friends
and You.. Mary" The Gale" ',.,, 'Manhstsan..
sea April i, 1861. when the frigate Niagara home
ward bound from China TO assist in putting down
the rebellion: ''rhe commodore's Return Death
at Sea-" Coming Home" "Al Up Anchor "Old Re-
lief" In the Ofhng." Gone Aloft. "Of Scilly's
Isles" "Adaline." "Moonrise. Norfolk Girls and
The Date of 80 The latter song hia favorite
revived memories of the date of his entry into
the navy mildly or 'recfer.