The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-11-14
DEATH OF ADMIRAL sHuFELDT.
Passing Away of Gallant Sailor who Had
Rendered His Country Great Service.

Passing Away of n Gallant Sailor Who Had
Rendered His Country Great Service.
Rear-Admiral Robert W. Shufeldt died at his
home in Washington Thursday, Nov q. lie
was born at Red Hook, Dutchess Co., n. Y,
Feb. 81, 1922, and entered the naval service as
Midshipman from his native State May IL,
1889, making his first cruise in the frigatc Po'
tomac. being attached excessively to the Bra
zil station, to the brig cambridge to the home
squadron rs Acting Master, and to the Naval
school at Philadelphia, being promoted to
Passed Midshipman July 2, 1S45.
He served as Chief Officer Of the United States
mail steamers Atlantic and Georgia, 1S49-5l;
was commissioned as Lieutenant 1854.
At the outbreak of hostilities he promptly
volunteered for naval duty, was appointed
Lieutenant and ordered to command the Qua
ker City. that ship having been turned over to
the United States Government Secretary OF
State Seward had him at once returned to Ha-
vana to perform important services, for which
he was deemed especially qualified. and which
il is believed, prevented much aid TO the Con-
federaey from the Spanish colonies. At the
end of two years. having, under very trying
circumstances, fulfilled the mission entrusted
to him, he resigned the Consul Generalship and
accepted a commission Commander, which
had previously been rendered hm by President
Lincoln.
He received his commission as Captain in
December. 1862 and in 1870 was put in charge
of the Tefauntepeck surveying expedition.
His services on the Ticonderoga expedition
were valuable The Ticonderoga, with Com
modore Shufeldt in command, left Hampton
Roads in December, 1878, and reached San
Francisco on her return from her voyage
around the world in February, 1880 The first
duty Of her Commander was that he should
visit Monrovia, with the understanding that
Ii it became necessary he should act as umpire
in settling a disputed question of boundary
between Great Britain and Liberia. He was
also instructed to visit Madagascar, India,
China, Japan, Korea, and the Intervening seas
and islands The special purpose of his visit
to Korea was to prevail, if possible upon the
authorities Of that Kingdom to open their ports
to the commercial world
In 1881, while naval attachc at Pekin as
special agent Of the United States, with pleni-
potentiary powers, Commodore Shufeldt Sc
cured the treaty which finally opened Korea
TO the world and recognized that State
independent nation. While in the East he
was urgently requested by the Chinese Emperor.
through Lii Hung Chang, to take command CT
the Chinese navy and coast defenses. and act ss
honorary adviser to the Empire. He declined
these honors with their attractive emoluments,
preferring to remain in the United States
service but upon his advice Ii Hung Chang
fortified Port Arthur the chief strategic
point of the coast line.
On his return home Commodore Shufeldt was
made President Of the Naval Advisory Board
which designed the first steel cruiser and map
pad out the New Navy. This was from 1882 to
1884, part of which time he also Super
intendent of the Naval Observatory. He was
promoted To Rear Admiral in 1883, and was
retired on Feb. q, 1884. upon reaching the age
limit of 81 years. He was buried ut Arlington.