William W. Wood
Encyclopedia
Engineer in Chief William W. W. Wood was chief of the United States Navy Bureau of Steam Engineering
1873-77.
in the Home Squadron
.
From 1854 to 1857, Wood superintended the constructions of the engines of the screw-frigate Merrimac
at Cold Spring, New York. His next appointment was for two years serving in the screw-sloop Lancaster
on the Pacific Squadron
.
From 1862 to 1866 Wood spent most of his time on special duty in Philadelphia, New York and Boston.
Wood was assigned to the US Naval Academy from 1866 to 1867.
Wood was Inspector of Machinery Afloat in New York from 1870 to 1872.
Wood was promoted engineer in chief in 1872, and was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering
20 March 1873, his successor was appointed on 3 March 1877.
Wood was assigned to special duty in 1878, and was placed on the retired list on 31 May 1880.
Bureau of Steam Engineering
Bureau of Steam Engineering was set up by act of 5 July 1862, receiving some of the duties of the former Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repair. It became, by the Naval Appropriation Act of 4 June 1920, the Bureau of Engineering...
1873-77.
Career
Wood was born in North Carolina, but was appointed to the navy from New York on 15 March 1845 with the rank of chief engineer. He spent his first two years in the navy stationed at Pensacola navy-yard, Florida. He briefly did special duty at Boston, and then from 1850 to 1853 served on the paddle-sloop SaranacUSS Saranac (1848)
USS Saranac – a sloop of war -- was laid down in 1847 during the Mexican-American War; however, by the time she completed sea trials, the war was over. She was commissioned in 1850 and saw service protecting American interests in the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Pacific Ocean. When the American...
in the Home Squadron
Home Squadron
The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy and the slave trade, make coastal surveys, and train ships to relieve others on distant stations...
.
From 1854 to 1857, Wood superintended the constructions of the engines of the screw-frigate Merrimac
USS Merrimack (1855)
USS Merrimack was a frigate and sailing vessel of the United States Navy, best known as the hull upon which the ironclad warship, CSS Virginia was constructed during the American Civil War...
at Cold Spring, New York. His next appointment was for two years serving in the screw-sloop Lancaster
USS Lancaster (1858)
The first USS Lancaster was a screw sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War through the Spanish-American War....
on 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...
.
From 1862 to 1866 Wood spent most of his time on special duty in Philadelphia, New York and Boston.
Wood was assigned to the US Naval Academy from 1866 to 1867.
Wood was Inspector of Machinery Afloat in New York from 1870 to 1872.
Wood was promoted engineer in chief in 1872, and was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering
Bureau of Steam Engineering
Bureau of Steam Engineering was set up by act of 5 July 1862, receiving some of the duties of the former Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repair. It became, by the Naval Appropriation Act of 4 June 1920, the Bureau of Engineering...
20 March 1873, his successor was appointed on 3 March 1877.
Wood was assigned to special duty in 1878, and was placed on the retired list on 31 May 1880.
Family
At the time of his death in 1882, Wood was married and had five children:- Lieut Thomas Wood USN
- Mrs Heald, wife of Lieut Heald USN
- Mrs Stone, wife of Lieut Sone USN
- Mrs Reich, wife of Lieut Reich USN
- Master Frank Wood