Richard Wainwright (admiral)

Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright (17 December 1849 – 6 March 1926), son of Commander Richard Wainwright, was an officer in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War.

Born in Washington, D.C., Wainwright was initially commissioned in the United States Navy on 28 September 1864. Wainwright was executive officer on board the battleship Maine when she blew up in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, on 15 February 1898. Surviving the explosion, he was assigned to command of the tender Fern and was in charge of the recovery of the bodies of the victims. He also assisted in the collection of information for the subsequent court of inquiry.

Wainwright later commanded the wooden gunboat Gloucester at the Battle of Santiago on 3 July 1898. In this engagement, Gloucester sank one Spanish torpedo boat and drove another on the beach. Wainwright was commended for his valor in this engagement. Later, promoted to rear admiral, he commanded the Second Division of the United States Atlantic Fleet during that fleet's historic voyage around the world from 1907 to 1909.

Retired from active duty on 7 December 1911, Admiral Wainwright died in Washington, D.C.

Three ships have been named USS Wainwright for Richard, his father, his son and two cousins.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.