Willard H . Brownson Rear Admiral Willard Herbert Brownson , USN ( July 8 , 1845 – March 16 , 1935 ) , was a United States Navy officer whose career included service against pirates in Mexico and service during the Spanish - American War . He also served a term as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy . Early life and career . A native of Lyons , New York , Brownson graduated from the Naval Academy in 1865 . He served in the North Atlantic Squadron until 1868 , when he was assigned to the Pacific Squadron . In 1870 , during his tour of duty on the steam sloop - of - war , Brownson and a detachment of men fought the Battle of Boca Teacapan against the pirate ship " Forward " in Mexican waters . During the fighting , United States Marines and U . S . Navy sailors captured the enemy ship and defeated a superior force of pirates positioned at a shore battery . In 1872 , Brownson reported for duty at the Naval Academy ' s Department of Mathematics . Three years later , he was sent as a young lieutenant to the Asiatic Station . Brownson returned to the Naval Academy in 1878 as Assistant Commandant of Cadets . In 1881 , he was ordered to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey as a lieutenant commander , where he commanded the survey ship USC & GS " George S . Blake " until 1884 . After brief duty as executive officer of the steam frigate , he was named Inspector of Hydrography for the Coast Survey . From 1889 to 1894 , Brownson commanded several ships , and was promoted to commander in 1891 . He commanded the protected cruiser at Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , during the Brazilian Naval Revolt of 1893 – 1894 , during which Brownson protected American commerce by firing on the rebel cruiser " Trajano " in a short naval engagement , the Rio de Janeiro Affair , which earned him notoriety as a bold leader . After a return to the Naval Academy as Commandant of Cadets , Brownson served for two years on the Board of Inspection and Survey . He commanded the auxiliary cruiser during the Spanish - American War of 1898 and participated in the Battle of Guantánamo Bay , in which two Spanish gunboat s and a few infantry companies attempted to resist an American and Cuban capture of the bay . The result was an important victory for Cuban and United States Navy forces . In 1899 Brownson achieved the rank of captain and command of the battleship , and from 1902 to 1905 was Superintendent of the Naval Academy . Brownson was promoted to rear admiral in 1905 , when he hoisted his flag on board the armored cruiser as Commander , 4th Division , North Atlantic Fleet . He served as Commander , Special Service Squadron in Central American waters and was Commander - in - Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet from 15 October 1906 to 31 March 1907 . In 1907 , Brownson was assigned as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation , which handled the U . S . Navys personnel matters . In July 1907 , he was transferred to the retired list , but continued to serve in his post at the Bureau of Navigation until December 1907 . That month , President Theodore Roosevelt decided to give command of hospital ship s to U . S . Navy doctors , against the advice of Brownson , who then resigned from the Navy . A storm of protest arose from within the Navy and from the public , but Brownsons active naval career was over . Brownson married Isabella Roberts in July 1872 . Their first child , Henry was born in 1874 and died in 1876 shortly after his father left for the Asiatic Station . The following spring his daughter Harriet was born . In 1878 another son , Roswell , was born and in 1894 a second daughter , Caroline , was born . Caroline Brownson married Thomas C . Hart , later an admiral and the last Commander - in - Chief of the Asiatic Fleet . Harriet married Admiral Charles Lincoln Hussey , who as an ensign received the Navy Cross during the Spanish - American War . Brownson died at Washington , D . C . , on 16 March 1935 . Namesakes . Two U . S . Navy destroyer s have been named in Brownsons honor .