Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-23

rose rapidly through the various grades in
the construction corps. until in July of 1893
he was appointed chief of the bureau of
construction and repair. the highest posi-
ton in that branch of the service. He has
been at all times since his occupation of
that important office prominently associated
with all matters affecting the designing and
construction of our naval vessels, and mis-
individual inventions of naval appliances
and improvements are in evidence in our
own as well as in all of the big European
naVfeS
Admiral Hichborn was born in Charles-
town. Mass. sixty-two years ago. His first
noteworthy experience ON the sea
tempestuouS voyage from Boston around
Cape Horn to San Francisco. where he rose
to the grade of assistant naval constructor
in 1869. with the rank Of lieutenant in
1870 after ten years service at the Mare
Island yard, he transferred - the
Portsmouth, N H. yard.
In Charge of Monitor Construction.
In July, 1879 he received his commission
as naval constructor, and in 1880 when
Congress determined to reorganize the navy
he was selected by Secretary Hunt 10 serve
as member of the first naval advisory
board. lie had charge of the construction
of the monitors Terror, Amphitrile and
/ Puritan. and 1t was due to him that two of
these vessels Were converted from double
luiIttSi monitors 10 d0uDle-bd rbe ttc-t llrfet
ed coast defense vessels of a very fornid-
able type. the latter device being OF herwise
known as the "Hichborn turret'' This
type Of turret has since been improved and
has become a part of the construction Of
every turreted vessel of the navy
In 1884 Admiral Hichborn was selected
TO go abroad and investigate naval prog
ress in Europe. and Congress found it
necessary to authorize two editions of the
valuable report which resulted On his
return he was appointed assistant chief of
the bureau of construction and repair.
While serving as a member of the loard
on life boats he invented the Franklin
life buoy which has been in use in our
navy for a number of years, anu Is n evil
dence In the Russian, Japanese, German,
French and English navies. well as in
received his appointment as chief censtruc-
tor on the 18th of July, 1893 and was re-
appointed to that office at the beginning
of President Mckinley's first term.
Innovations He Has Aided.
His occupancy has been marked by
number of innovations in naval design and
| accoutrement, prominent among them be-
| ing submarine boats, the sheathing of
ships, electrical appliances on shipboard,
| fireproof wood water tube boilers and the
! change from 13-inch to Pinch guns as
| the largest caliber gun to be used in the
| navy. While at the League Island yard
| the admiral designed complete set Of
| ships boats which were adopted as stand
ard and built for all the vessels of the
! navy. He has devoted much time to liter
| airy work, chiefly of professional nature
| Read Admiral Hichborn is a descendant
| of an old colonial family, member of
| which, Deborah Hichborn. was the mother
| of Paul Revere. In November 1879, he
| married Miss Jennie NJ. + "anklin Of Yer
| mont. an accomplished and charming lady.
| His daughter, Miss Martha Hichborn, has
| been for some time the belle of the naval
social circle Throughout his entire service
| Admiral Hichborn has been noted for his
| consideration and courtesy to all with
whom he came in contact, great and small,
| and he holds the full measure of esteem
! and respect that invariably repays just and
| generous treatment.