CAPERTON, William Banks, American naval officer: b. Spring Hill, Tenn., 30 June 1855. He was graduated at the United States Naval Academy in 1875. Through the various grades of the service he rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1889. He has had over 23 years of sea service and about 19 years of shore and other duty. He has seen service in every sea, and has shown that he is one of the great men of the United States navy. He was an officer on board the Marietta when she accompanied the Oregon in her famous race from the Pacific to the Atlantic to take part in the fight with Admiral Cervera's fleet in the Spanish War. Previous to that he was one of the young American naval officers who were sent to Paris to the Exposition there in 1878. He was at one time assigned to duty with the coast and geo detic survey and served as an officer aboard the Vesuvius. He was in command of the naval
station at Newport, R. I., and supervisor of the second naval district 1913-14. He was named rear-admiral in 1913 and was assigned to the command of the cruiser squadron of the At lantic fleet in 1915. In 1914-15 he was in the Caribbean trying to bring peace to the war torn republics of Hayti and San Domingo. When it was time to fight he showed that he was a fighter, and he has been equally proficient in diplomacy. He brought the most turbulent of the revolutionary leaders at least to make believe they liked peace. In July 1916 he was promoted to admiral tfor valuable and satis factory service in Hayti and San Domingo and his efficient record as a high executive officer.* On 29 July 1916 he took command of the Pacific fleet, succeeding Admiral Winslow.