MacGillivray Milne
Encyclopedia
MacGillivray Milne was a United States Navy
Captain, and the 27th Governor of American Samoa from January 20, 1936, to June 3, 1938. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy
, Milne served many posts in the Navy, including heading the Department of Modern Languages at the Naval Academy. He was a veteran of a large numbers of conflicts, including the Philippine–American War, the United States occupation of Veracruz, and both World War I
and World War II
. Milne commanded a number of ships, but his last one was the battleship . After the ship struck a private fishing vessel and killed two civilians, Milne was court-martialed and stripped of three grades which determined his eligibility for promotion. As Governor, Milne pushed for the modernization of American Samoa
, and sought increased federal aid for the islands; his efforts to obtain additional funding for the island largely ended in failure. He died in 1959 at the Naval Hospital Oakland, and was buried in Tenafly, New Jersey
.
. He married Natalie Elise Blauvelt on June 2, 1917. He lived most of his life in Newport, Rhode Island
. Milne died January 26, 1959, at Naval Hospital Oakland in Oakland, California
, and was buried in Tenafly, New Jersey
. Because of his difficult to spell and overly-long given name, Milne always signed official letters "M. Milne".
, and served in as a naval officer in multiple different wars, including the Philippine-American War
, the United States occupation of Veracruz, and the both World War I
and World War II
. He served a post at the United States Naval Academy
. While there, he joined a panel of three other officers in researching the scholarship of student athlete
s at the Academy over a period of thirty years. The panel found that these athletes were likely to stay in the United States Navy
for long periods of time, and were often career minded. At the Academy, Milne also served as head of the modern language
s department.
In 1932, Milne was one of few American military officers chosen to travel to Italy
to inspect a number of war veterans alongside Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
. Mussolini had invited officers from numerous countries in an effort to improve relations.
Milne then commanded the USS Arizona
when, in 1934, the battleship collided with the private fishing vessel Umatilla off the coast of Neah Bay, Washington
, on July 26, 1934. The collision split the Umatilla in half, and two of its crew drowned. Milne underwent a court martial, where the blame for the crash was placed upon him. The court stripped him of three grades of seniority within his rank, making it very difficult for him to be promoted. Milne had been ranked 149th in the Navy register, but retired with the rank he had at this time, that of Captain. Officials stated that the real punishment came from the "black mark" the court martial left upon Milne's record. His position on the Arizona ended soon after his conviction.
from command. He took steps in modernizing American Samoa
; his wife appealed directly to First Lady of the United States
Eleanor Roosevelt
to help improve the state of the islands' indoor plumbing and sanitation systems. Among his projects, Milne tried to have a library built for use by the Samoans
. Despite these efforts, neither of the two were able to acquire federal aid for the improvement of infrastructure. During his term, the inhabitants of American Samoa became increasingly Americanized
.
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...
Captain, and the 27th Governor of American Samoa from January 20, 1936, to June 3, 1938. After graduating from the United States 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...
, Milne served many posts in the Navy, including heading the Department of Modern Languages at the Naval Academy. He was a veteran of a large numbers of conflicts, including the Philippine–American War, the United States occupation of Veracruz, and both 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...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Milne commanded a number of ships, but his last one was the battleship . After the ship struck a private fishing vessel and killed two civilians, Milne was court-martialed and stripped of three grades which determined his eligibility for promotion. As Governor, Milne pushed for the modernization of American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, and sought increased federal aid for the islands; his efforts to obtain additional funding for the island largely ended in failure. He died in 1959 at the Naval Hospital Oakland, and was buried in Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 14,488. Tenafly is an affluent suburb of New York City....
.
Early life
Milne was born on August 19, 1882, in Gauley Bridge, West VirginiaGauley Bridge, West Virginia
Gauley Bridge is a town in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 738 at the 2000 census. The Kanawha River is formed at Gauley Bridge by the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers...
. He married Natalie Elise Blauvelt on June 2, 1917. He lived most of his life in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. Milne died January 26, 1959, at Naval Hospital Oakland in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, and was buried in Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 14,488. Tenafly is an affluent suburb of New York City....
. Because of his difficult to spell and overly-long given name, Milne always signed official letters "M. Milne".
Naval Service
Milne graduated from the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, and served in as a naval officer in multiple different wars, including the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
, the United States occupation of Veracruz, and the both 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...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served a post at the United States 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...
. While there, he joined a panel of three other officers in researching the scholarship of student athlete
Student athlete
A student athlete is a term used to describe a participant in an organized competitive sport sponsored by the educational institution in which he or she is enrolled, a term primarily used in the United States. It is used to describe the direct balance of a full-time student and a full-time athlete...
s at the Academy over a period of thirty years. The panel found that these athletes were likely to stay in the United States Navy
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...
for long periods of time, and were often career minded. At the Academy, Milne also served as head of the modern language
Modern language
A modern language is any human language that is currently in use. The term is used in language education to distinguish between languages which are used for day-to-day communication and dead classical languages such as Latin, Attic Greek, Sanskrit, and Classical Chinese, which are studied for...
s department.
In 1932, Milne was one of few American military officers chosen to travel to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to inspect a number of war veterans alongside Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
. Mussolini had invited officers from numerous countries in an effort to improve relations.
Milne then commanded the USS Arizona
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona, a , was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state's recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of "super-dreadnought" battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside...
when, in 1934, the battleship collided with the private fishing vessel Umatilla off the coast of Neah Bay, Washington
Neah Bay, Washington
Neah Bay is a census-designated place on the Makah Indian reservation in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 794 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Neah Bay is located at ....
, on July 26, 1934. The collision split the Umatilla in half, and two of its crew drowned. Milne underwent a court martial, where the blame for the crash was placed upon him. The court stripped him of three grades of seniority within his rank, making it very difficult for him to be promoted. Milne had been ranked 149th in the Navy register, but retired with the rank he had at this time, that of Captain. Officials stated that the real punishment came from the "black mark" the court martial left upon Milne's record. His position on the Arizona ended soon after his conviction.
Governorship
Milne became the Governor of American Samoa on January 20, 1936, relieving Thomas Benjamin FitzpatrickThomas Benjamin Fitzpatrick
Thomas Benjamin Fitzpatrick was a United States Navy Commander and the 26th Governor of American Samoa for a brief time from January 15, 1936 to January 20, 1936. During World War II, Fitzpatrick commanded the USS Zeilin, which landed troops and sustained damage during the Battle of...
from command. He took steps in modernizing American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
; his wife appealed directly to First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
to help improve the state of the islands' indoor plumbing and sanitation systems. Among his projects, Milne tried to have a library built for use by the Samoans
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
. Despite these efforts, neither of the two were able to acquire federal aid for the improvement of infrastructure. During his term, the inhabitants of American Samoa became increasingly Americanized
Americanization
Americanization is the influence of the United States on the popular culture, technology, business practices, or political techniques of other countries. The term has been used since at least 1907. Inside the U.S...
.