Seaton Schroeder Seaton Schroeder ( 17 August 1849 – 19 October 1922 ) was an admiral of the United States Navy . Biography . Schroeder was born in Washington , D . C . , on 17 August 1849 the son of Frances Schroeder , who was the United States Ambassador to Sweden . His mother was the daughter of William Winston Seaton , who , with his brother - in - law , Joseph Gales , owned and edited the National Intelligencer . Seaton served as the Mayor of Washington , D . C . , from 1840 to 1850 . He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1864 , which , because of the American Civil War , was in Newport , Rhode Island . After graduating in June 1868 he served with the Pacific Fleet in 1868 - 69 under Admiral John Rodgers in screw sloop , , and fought in the Salt River near Seoul , Korea . His sea tours took him to Alaska , Japan , and the Philippines in , to the West Indies in , and on a world cruise on . Marriage and family . He married on January 16 , 1879 at Washington , D . C . , Maria Campbell Bache Wainwright , born March 14 , 1856 at Washington , D . C . , and died in 1925 at Jamestown , Rhode Island . She was the daughter of Sarah Franklin Bache and Richard Wainwright . She was the granddaughter of Richard Bache , Jr . , who served in the Republic of Texas Navy and was elected as a Representative to the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and Sophia Burrell Dallas , the daughter of Arabella Maria Smith and Alexander J . Dallas an American statesman who served as the U . S . Treasury Secretary under President James Madison . She was also a great - granddaughter of Sarah Franklin Bache and Richard Bache , and more notably she was the great - great - granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin as well as a niece of George Mifflin Dallas the 11th Vice President of the United States , serving under James K . Polk . His brother - in - law was Admiral Richard Wainwright . Career . After specializing in hydrographic duties for 11 years , he spent two years in the Office of Naval Intelligence ( ONI ) where he helped develop the Driggs - Schroeder rapid - fire gun . He returned to sea in 1890 as the Commanding Officer of . In 1893 , he began a three - year tour as ordnance officer for the Washington Navy Yard and as the recorder of the Board of Inspection and Survey ; and joined the Board as a member in 1894 . Following his appointment as executive officer of the battleship , he participated in the American blockade of Santiago , Cuba , during the Spanish – American War and was advanced three numbers in rank " for eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle " during five engagements between 31 May and 4 July 1898 . He was appointed Naval governor of Guam on 19 July 1900 , and there commanded and later , . On 1 May 1903 , Schroeder became Chief Intelligence Officer of the Navy . He assumed command of upon her first commissioning on 7 May 1906 and afterwards commanded various divisions in the Atlantic Fleet . Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1908 , he hoisted his flag on when he took command of the Atlantic Fleet on 8 March 1909 . Two months later , Schroeder was assigned to the Navy General Board . Schroeder was placed on the retired list on 17 August 1911 and retired to his home in Jamestown , Rhode Island . Rear Admiral Schroeder was recalled to active duty in 1912 to prepare a new signal book , and again in World War I to serve as Chief Hydrographer and the Navy representative on the United States Geographic Board . He died at the Naval Hospital , Washington , D . C . , on 19 October 1922 . Namesake . In 1942 , the destroyer was named in his honor .