Joseph Coghlan Explained

Joseph Bullock Coghlan
Birth Date:9 December 1844
Placeofburial Label:Place of burial
Placeofburial:Arlington National Cemetery
Birth Place:Frankfort, Kentucky
Death Place:New Rochelle, New York
Allegiance:United States of America
Branch: United States Navy
Serviceyears:1863–1907
Rank:Rear Admiral
Commands:New York Navy Yard

Department of Alaska
Battles:American Civil War
Spanish–American War

Rear Admiral Joseph Bullock Coghlan (9 December 1844 – 5 December 1908) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War.

Biography

Born at Frankfort, Kentucky, to Cornelius and Lavinia Coghlan,[1] and raised in Illinois, Coghlan graduated from the Naval Academy in 1863. He served in the sloop-of-war during the Civil War. As commander of the screw sloop, Coghlan was military commander of the Department of Alaska from 15 September 1883 to 13 September 1884. During the Spanish–American War he led the expedition which captured the batteries at Cavite (2 May 1898) and at Isla Grande, Subic Bay (7 July) and commanded the protected cruiser during the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.

Coghlan was promoted to rear admiral on 11 April 1902. He commanded American forces at Colón, Panama during the separation of Panama from Colombia in 1903.[2] Coghlan served as commandant of the New York Navy Yard from 1 October 1904 to 30 May 1907.

He was a Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

After retirement, Coghlan served as president of the Debenture Corporation on Wall Street in New York City. On 31 October 1908, he served as Grand Marshal of a parade of 90,000 businessmen in support of Republican candidates William Howard Taft and James S. Sherman.[3] Less than two months later, Coghlan died in the Sutton Manor district of New Rochelle, New York, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[4] [5] [6] [7]

Namesakes

Two ships have been named in his honor.

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinamerica02marq/page/223/mode/2up COGHLAN, Joseph Bullock
  2. News: The Panama Question . . 9 November 1903 . 14 August 2012.
  3. News: 90,000 Men to March in Support of Taft . 31 October 1908 . 2 . The New York Times . 19 June 2023.
  4. News: Admiral Coghlan, Naval Hero, Dead . 6 December 1908 . 6 . The New York Times . 19 June 2023.
  5. News: Admiral Coghlan Dies . 6 December 1908 . 2 . The Washington Post . 19 June 2023. .
  6. News: Many View Coghlan's Body . 7 December 1908 . 6 . The New York Times . 19 June 2023.
  7. News: Coghlan's Body on the Way . 9 December 1908 . 1 . The Washington Post . 19 June 2023. .