Rear Admiral William Nelson Little (December 31, 1852 – January 4, 1925) was a United States naval officer who was court martialed in 1915 on charges of negligence during his inspection of the submarine . This was one of the few times that a retired military person was court martialed.[1] He was not convicted, but Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels censured him for leaving the Navy no legal recourse against the Electric Boat Company for having supplied defective submarine batteries.[2]
Little was born in Newburgh, New York, on December 31, 1852. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1875 and was promoted to rear admiral in 1913.[3]
After his death, Little was interred at Arlington National Cemetery[4] with his wife Catherine Platt "Kate" (Sewell) Little.