Clarence S. Williams
Encyclopedia
Clarence Stewart Williams (October 7, 1863 - October 24, 1951) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy
who served as commander in chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet
from 1925 to 1927.
to Orson Williams and Pamela Floyd, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1884 and was ordered to the sloop , flagship of the Pacific Squadron
. He then served aboard the Coast Survey
schooner Eagre
from 1886 to 1887, aboard the sloop patrolling the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
from 1887 to 1889, and as instructor in mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1889 to 1893. From 1893 to 1896, he served as watch officer aboard the protected cruiser , which protected American interests and shipping in South America during the Brazilian Revolution
and evacuated missionaries from the coast of China during the Sino-Japanese War
. He returned to the Academy as an instructor of higher mathematics from 1896 to 1898.
During the Spanish-American War
, he commanded the newly commissioned gunboat , which participated in the blockade of Cuba
as a dispatch vessel. He was watch officer aboard the unarmored cruiser from 1899 to 1900 and aboard the battleship from 1900 to 1901. He participated in a preliminary hydrographic survey
of Midway Island for a cable station in 1901. From 1901 to 1903, he was an instructor of navigation at the Academy, then served as executive officer of the hospital ship , as executive officer of the monitor , and as navigator of the training ship during 1903 and 1904. He was executive officer of Iowa from 1904 to 1905, navigator of the battleship in 1905, and executive officer of Iowa again from 1905 to 1907. He was a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey
from 1911 to 1912.
He commanded the battleship from 1912 to 1915, including operations during the Mexican Campaign
of 1914. During World War I
, he served as chief of staff of the Battleship Force, Atlantic Fleet; as commander of Battleship Division 8, Atlantic Fleet; and as commander of Light Cruiser Division 1, Pacific Fleet
, on detached duty in the South Atlantic. He served briefly as chief of staff of the Naval War College
early in 1919, but was transferred in June to command Battleship Squadron 4, Pacific Fleet.
After the war, he reported to the Navy Department
to organize the Office of War Plans as its first director. He was President of the Naval War College
from November 3, 1922 to September 5, 1925.
as commander in chief of the Asiatic Fleet
and was promoted to the temporary rank of full admiral. As senior American officer in the Far East
, Williams directed the American military intervention to protect foreign nationals in China
at the beginning of the Chinese Civil War
.
In 1926, the Kuomintang
allied with the Chinese Communist Party
to launch the Northern Expedition with the objective of unifying the country by suppressing local warlords
and abrogating the unequal treaties imposed on China by the Western powers. Following the Nanjing Incident
, in which Kuomintang troops targeted foreign properties and personnel, Western and Japanese warships and marines were dispatched to protect and evacuate foreign nationals living in cities on the Yangtze River
. As Kuomintang forces approached Shanghai
, home to a large international settlement, the American minister to China
, John Van Antwerpt MacMurray, requested military intervention to protect their lives and interests. The State Department
directed Williams to protect lives by evacuating Americans from the interior but not to protect private property unless lives were endangered. American forces were authorized to cooperate with other foreign forces, but not to participate in joint military actions.
At the height of the crisis, 171 warships of various nations were anchored off Shanghai. The American force included four cruisers, four destroyers, an oiler, a transport, a minesweeper, and the 3rd Marine Brigade
, commanded by Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler. Williams was the senior officer of the international armada, although the British had more ships. Once Shanghai was secured, Williams sent reinforcements to Tientsin
with orders to defend Americans in that city; to protect the Tientsin-Peking railroad; and, if necessary, to rescue MacMurray and the American legation from Peking
. The threat to foreign nationals gradually faded as the strong foreign military presence helped deter further violence targeted against foreigners, and as the uneasy alliance between the Kuomintang and the Communists disintegrated into the Chinese Civil War
.
Williams was relieved as commander in chief of the Asiatic Fleet by Admiral Mark L. Bristol
on September 9, 1927 and reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral, retiring shortly thereafter.
He died in Charlottesville, Virginia
. He is buried with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law in Arlington National Cemetery
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
who served as commander in chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet
United States Asiatic Fleet
The United States Asiatic Fleet was part of the U.S. Navy. Preceding the World War II era, until 1942, the fleet protected the Philippines.Originally the Asiatic Squadron, it was upgraded to fleet status in 1902. In 1907, the fleet became the First Squadron of the Pacific Fleet. However, on 28...
from 1925 to 1927.
Early career
Born in Springfield, OhioSpringfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
to Orson Williams and Pamela Floyd, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1884 and was ordered to the sloop , flagship of the Pacific Squadron
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
. He then served aboard the Coast Survey
U.S. National Geodetic Survey
National Geodetic Survey, formerly called the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey , is a United States federal agency that defines and manages a national coordinate system, providing the foundation for transportation and communication; mapping and charting; and a large number of applications of science...
schooner Eagre
USC&GS Eagre
USC&GS Eagre was a survey ship of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, originally the yacht Mohawk, which later served in the United States Navy as USS Eagre.-Ship history:...
from 1886 to 1887, aboard the sloop patrolling the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
from 1887 to 1889, and as instructor in mathematics at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1889 to 1893. From 1893 to 1896, he served as watch officer aboard the protected cruiser , which protected American interests and shipping in South America during the Brazilian Revolution
Revolta da Armada
Brazilian Naval Revolts, or the Revoltas da Armada , were armed mutinies promoted mainly by Admirals Custodio de Mello and Saldanha da Gama and their fleet of Brazilian Navy ships against unconstitucional attitudes of the then the central government in Rio de Janeiro.-First revolt:In November 1891,...
and evacuated missionaries from the coast of China during the Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
. He returned to the Academy as an instructor of higher mathematics from 1896 to 1898.
During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, he commanded the newly commissioned gunboat , which participated in the blockade of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
as a dispatch vessel. He was watch officer aboard the unarmored cruiser from 1899 to 1900 and aboard the battleship from 1900 to 1901. He participated in a preliminary hydrographic survey
Hydrographic survey
Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration/drilling and related disciplines. Strong emphasis is placed on soundings, shorelines, tides, currents, sea floor and submerged...
of Midway Island for a cable station in 1901. From 1901 to 1903, he was an instructor of navigation at the Academy, then served as executive officer of the hospital ship , as executive officer of the monitor , and as navigator of the training ship during 1903 and 1904. He was executive officer of Iowa from 1904 to 1905, navigator of the battleship in 1905, and executive officer of Iowa again from 1905 to 1907. He was a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey
Board of Inspection and Survey
The Board of Inspection and Survey is a U.S. Navy organization whose purpose is to inspect and assess material condition of Naval vessels.The Board is currently headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.- INSURV teams :...
from 1911 to 1912.
He commanded the battleship from 1912 to 1915, including operations during the Mexican Campaign
Tampico Affair
The Tampico Affair started off as a minor incident involving U.S. sailors and Mexican land forces loyal to General Victoriano Huerta during the guerra de las facciones phase of the Mexican Revolution...
of 1914. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served as chief of staff of the Battleship Force, Atlantic Fleet; as commander of Battleship Division 8, Atlantic Fleet; and as commander of Light Cruiser Division 1, Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
, on detached duty in the South Atlantic. He served briefly as chief of staff of the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
early in 1919, but was transferred in June to command Battleship Squadron 4, Pacific Fleet.
After the war, he reported to the Navy Department
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
to organize the Office of War Plans as its first director. He was President of the Naval War College
President of the Naval War College
The President of the Naval War College is a flag officer in the United States Navy. The President's House is his official residence.Since the Korean War, all presidents of the Naval War College have been vice admirals or rear admirals.-Presidents:...
from November 3, 1922 to September 5, 1925.
Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet
On October 14, 1925, Williams relieved Admiral Thomas WashingtonThomas Washington
Thomas Washington was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War I.-Early life and career:Born at Goldsboro, North Carolina, Washington was appointed to the United States Naval Academy on 17 May 1883...
as commander in chief of the Asiatic Fleet
United States Asiatic Fleet
The United States Asiatic Fleet was part of the U.S. Navy. Preceding the World War II era, until 1942, the fleet protected the Philippines.Originally the Asiatic Squadron, it was upgraded to fleet status in 1902. In 1907, the fleet became the First Squadron of the Pacific Fleet. However, on 28...
and was promoted to the temporary rank of full admiral. As senior American officer in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, Williams directed the American military intervention to protect foreign nationals in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
at the beginning of the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
.
In 1926, the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
allied with the Chinese Communist Party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
to launch the Northern Expedition with the objective of unifying the country by suppressing local warlords
Warlord era
The Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
and abrogating the unequal treaties imposed on China by the Western powers. Following the Nanjing Incident
Nanjing Incident
The Nanjing Incident, or Nanking Incident, , occurred in March of 1927 during the capture of the city by Communistforces from the Nationalists. Warships bombarded Nanjing in defense of the foreign citizens within the city. Several ships were involved in the engagement, including vessels from Great...
, in which Kuomintang troops targeted foreign properties and personnel, Western and Japanese warships and marines were dispatched to protect and evacuate foreign nationals living in cities on the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
. As Kuomintang forces approached Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, home to a large international settlement, the American minister to China
United States Ambassador to China
The United States Ambassador to China is the chief American diplomat to People's Republic of China . The United States has sent diplomatic representatives to China since 1844, when Caleb Cushing, as Commissioner, negotiated the Treaty of Wanghia. Commissioners represented the United States in...
, John Van Antwerpt MacMurray, requested military intervention to protect their lives and interests. The State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
directed Williams to protect lives by evacuating Americans from the interior but not to protect private property unless lives were endangered. American forces were authorized to cooperate with other foreign forces, but not to participate in joint military actions.
At the height of the crisis, 171 warships of various nations were anchored off Shanghai. The American force included four cruisers, four destroyers, an oiler, a transport, a minesweeper, and the 3rd Marine Brigade
3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States)
The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade is a United States Marine Corps unit that is the "middleweight" crises response force of choice in the Pacific Area of Operation...
, commanded by Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler. Williams was the senior officer of the international armada, although the British had more ships. Once Shanghai was secured, Williams sent reinforcements to Tientsin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
with orders to defend Americans in that city; to protect the Tientsin-Peking railroad; and, if necessary, to rescue MacMurray and the American legation from Peking
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. The threat to foreign nationals gradually faded as the strong foreign military presence helped deter further violence targeted against foreigners, and as the uneasy alliance between the Kuomintang and the Communists disintegrated into the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
.
Williams was relieved as commander in chief of the Asiatic Fleet by Admiral Mark L. Bristol
Mark Lambert Bristol
Mark Lambert Bristol was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.-Biography:He was born on April 17, 1868 in Glassboro, New Jersey. Bristol graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1887. During the Spanish-American War he served aboard Texas and participated in the Battle of Santiago de...
on September 9, 1927 and reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral, retiring shortly thereafter.
Personal life
He married the former Anne Miller on June 6, 1888, and had a son Edgar M. Williams, who became a captain in the Navy.He died in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. He is buried with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.