Oliver Mariner

## Oliver Alex Mariner

Official 1918 Presidential Portrait

**Oliver Alex Mariner** (lived January 15, 1853 - July 8, 1956) was an American-Aquavian veteran, lawyer, and politician who served the **first President** of the United Islands of Aquavia, and is considered the **Founding Father** of the United Islands of Aquavia. He was born on January 15th, 1853 in Raleigh, North Carolina of the United States. Mariner joined the United States Navy at the age of 18 in 1871. He was promoted to Rear Admiral for the United States Navy in 1895. Mariner was one of the first individuals to discover the United Islands in 1898. He is thought to be one of, if not the first person to step foot on Navaquia.

Throughout his life, he was a United States Navy officer, the first ever Governor of any of the five islands, the Governor of Navaquia from 1906 to 1918, and the first President of the United Islands of Aquavia from 1918 to 1938.

## Discovery of the Islands

On July 10th, 1898, about 90 sailors and officers in the Navy were traveling on a ship directed by Oliver Mariner when they approached an unidentified and unknown island in the North Atlantic Ocean. The island, now known as the State of Navaquia, was thought to be the first island discovered in Aquavia. The United States Navy proceeded to explore further, discovering four other islands nearby within the next few weeks. Mariner is said to have been the first individual to step foot on both Navaquia and Nautica. Before 1902, he managed to be part of a United States mission to explore all five islands.

## Role in the Atlantic Sovereignty War

Oliver Alex Mariner fought for the United States in the **1902 to 1906** **Atlantic Sovereignty War** between the US and UK. He was promoted to Vice Admiral for the US Navy in the midst of the war on August 3rd, 1905. Mariner was a major figure in the development of the **Atlantic Islands Treaty of 1906**, which established the joint-administration over the five islands, with the primary control of Tidalion, Nautica, and Navaquia going to the United States, the primary control of Marinia and Coralium going to the United Kingdom. Oliver Alex Mariner is included in the signatories of the **Atlantic Peace Treaty of 1906**.

## First Governor of any of the five Islands

Mariner remained stationed at a United States Military Base in Navaquia until being honorably discharged a few months later on May 5th, 1906, after being offered a position as Governor of Navaquia. Mariner was appointed by United States President Theodore Roosevelt to be the Governor of Navaquia on May 6th, 1906. He was passed by the United States Senate, and was sworn in as the first ever Governor of any of the five islands on May 30th, 1906. The four other islands followed shortly after, with the government of the United Kingdom being the last at appointing Governors of the two islands they held primary control over.

## Co-Author of the Atlantic Islands Independence Treaty

Similar to the 1906 treaty, Mariner was a co-author and one of the main signatories for the **Atlantic Islands Independence Treaty** **of 1914**. This established independence of all five states, and also started the process of Governors needing to be elected rather than appointed by the US or UK.

## First Elected Governor of any of the five Islands

Mariner ran for election of Navaquia, and due to his incredibly strong popularity, he won in a landslide election with 92% of the popular vote. He was sworn in on May 20th, 1914, becoming the first elected Governor of any of the five islands. The other four islands followed shortly after.

## Founding Father of the United Islands of Aquavia

In 1917, Mariner began drafting a document he hoped would lead to the unification of the five islands. Talks about the possible proposal began in early 1917. Mariner named the document the Constitution of the United Islands of Aquavia. On November 20th, 1917, voting in each of the five islands began regarding the proposal - with the supermajority of each of the five islands being in overwhelming support. On January 1st, 1918, the Constitution was officiated and ratified. This resulted in the formation of a union composed of the five islands - which were, from that point on, considered states of the nation. The nation, per the Constitution, was named the **United Islands of Aquavia**.

## First President of the United Islands of Aquavia

Oliver Alex Mariner ran for President in the 1918 Presidential Election, the first presidential election for the union. The election was faster than any future elections in the union would be due to the special circumstance of the union just having formed. Mariner won by a landslide, and was sworn in on January 20th, 1918. He served a 20-year term from 1918 to 1938, with his term ending on January 20th, 1938. Mariner's term ended when he was 85-years old.

## Death & Legacy

Oliver Alex Mariner died peacefully on July 8th, 1956 at the grand age of 102. He is formally recognized as the Founding Father of the United Islands, and is one of, if not the most influential figure in the history of the union.