Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-23
CAREER OF DE ROHAN.
ADMIRAL DAHLGREN's BROTHER A
SOLDIER or FORTUNE.


SOLDIER or FORTUNE.
An Eariy Quarrel Estranges Them for
Life-His Service on Two Continents with
Garibaldi-His Unrecompensed Service
for Victor Emanuel.
Admiral William de Rohan, who died
in this city, was one of the most remark
able men of this century, and complete
sketch of his life would read like chap
ter from medi@val history. He was Of
Morse descent, his father having been q
Swedish nobleman, and he was born
Dahlgren, his elder brother being Ad-
miral Dahlgren, of the United States
navy, whose services afioat during the
war, as well as his advanced improve
ments in ordnance, make such bright
page in the history of our navy. Another
brother, younger, Charles Dahlgren,
took sides with the south during the
war and was general officer.
DeRohan was nearly six feet in height.
broad shouldered and deep chested, and
in his prime of life must have been one
of the most powerful men living. His
head was Websterian in its proportions.
THE BROTHERS FIGHT.
Away back in the forties, when Will
lam had grown to mans estate in years,
Admiral Dahlgren, then lieutenant,
was stationed at the navy yard here en-
gagged in the ordnance departments, that
made his name famous for the style and
method of building the great ship guns
that bore his name and that fought the
naval battles of the civil war. One day
Dahlgren, the elder son, saw fit to take
William severely to task for something,
and that brought on a storm of angry
words on both sides that resulted in the
younger man knocking the older brother
into corner of the room. Dignity for
bade personal alteration, and Dahl
gren had an officer sent for.
Taken to the old City h all, William
was sullen and unrepentant, and though
family and neutral friends tried to stop
proceedings, Dahlgren pressed the case,
and the offender was fined $100 for the
assault. Then Dahlgren told the magis-
trate that if William would make
public apology for having struck an Off
Ger of the navy while in uniform he
would be willing that the penalty be set
aside.
"Neveri Never!" said William. al
will never apologize nor even speak a
word to you while God let's me live; and
more, while you live will never again
bear the name that you do"
So they parted in the mayors room at
the City hall, and William assumed his
mothers name of De Rohan, by which
he was known thereafter at home and
abroad to the day of his death. His
mother was member of the princely
family of De Rohan, of France.
Going abroad, his family connections
and ample means brought him into in
timacy with persons of the highest rank
in life, among them being Admiral Ho-
bart Pasha), of the Turkish navy, and
with him he took service under the sui
tan, with the rank of captain.
HIS CAREER IN ITALIAN WATERS.
Leaving the Turks he went to the
Argentine Republication Buenos Ayres
with Garibaldi, and commanded the
naval forces of that country in the sue
cessful revolution that brought indepen-
dence. After that, when Garibaldi came
to this country, De Rohan went to Chill
and became admiral of the Chilian navy.
Late in the ffties he joined Garihaldi,
with whom he was in constant CORE
spondence, in Europe, andentered heart
and soul with him in his plans for the
unifcation and independence of Italy.
While the great hberator directed and
commanded the land forces De Rohan
was made admiral of the revolutionary
navy, which was confirmed by Victor
Emanuel.
He was an admiral without feet, for
they did not have single vessel heavier
than coral fishing felucca; but he was
energetic, and by a very liberal outlay
of funds from his private purse and con-
tributions by English and French friends
he actually succeeded in purchasing and
arming three good sized merchant steam
ers, with which he escaped to Sardinia
and reported to Victor Emanuel.
It was on these vessels that the then
king of Sardinia and such troops as he
had were transported to the mainland of
Italy, and history tells of the result.
During the siege of Rome Admiral De
Rohan commanded the marine division
under Garibaldi and supervised the ar
tillery fire.
Other forms of government than re-
publics are at times ungrateful, and it is
so in this case, for, while Admiral De
Rohan spent nearly $3.50, 900 in providing
the means that gave the throne of Italy
to the house of Savoy, he never was re-
paid penny, and died in Providence
hospital here, cared for by charitable
friends.
During number of years he resided
In England, where he became interested
in the formation and workings of the
British naval reserve, in which he was
commissioned commander by the ad-
miralty. During the civil war he was
intensely loyal to the north, but refused
to take service in our navy lest he might
at some time be brought under the COM
mand of his brother, Admiral John Dahl
gren.
Put off Dy various excuses and neg
lected by Victor Emanuel in his attempts
to secure repayment of the immense
sums advanced to Italy, he came home
about 1871 and laid his claims before the