Cameron McRae Winslow

Cameron McRae Winslow (July 29, 1854 – January 2, 1932) served in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War and World War I. He was a son of Commander Francis Winslow (I) (1818–1862), who fought in the Civil War and died of yellow fever in 1862 while in command of .

He was a first cousin once removed of Rear Admiral John A. Winslow, who also served in the Civil War and is best known as the commanding officer of which defeated .

Early life Cameron McRae Winslow was born in Washington, D.C. He was the son of Francis Winslow (1819–1862) and Mary Sophia (née Nelson) Winslow (1828–1903). His older brother was Lieutenant Francis Winslow (II) USN; his younger brother, Arthur Winslow, was the grandfather of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Lowell. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1874, after which followed years of extensive sea duty.

Winslow was the great great great grandson of Major General John Stark, a distinguished soldier from New Hampshire during the American Revolution. In 1915 he joined the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati with General Stark as his propositus.

Naval career During the 1898 war with Spain, then Lieutenant Winslow served on board the gunboat . He was commended for extraordinary heroism when, on May 11, 1898, he commanded a boat expedition from Nashville and which succeeded in cutting two submarine cables off Cienfuegos, Cuba, which linked Cuba with Europe. Despite enemy fire from point-blank range, which resulted in a bullet wound to his hand, Winslow retained command throughout the engagement. At that time, regulations did not allow Navy officers to receive the Medal of Honor. However, all the enlisted sailors involved in the cable-cutting operation did receive the Medal of Honor.

Winslow commanded from 1905 to 1907 and battleship from 1908 to 1909. Winslow did not sail on the around-the-world cruise of the Great White Fleet. When the fleet returned to the US in 1909, Winslow and New Hampshire joined the fleet for its formal military review before President Roosevelt.

Promoted to rear admiral on September 14, 1911, Winslow was Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, from September 13, 1915 until July 29, 1916 when he was retired due to reaching the statutory age limit of 62. (While in command of the Pacific Fleet, he held four-star Admiral rank pursuant to a 1915 law that designated holders of certain commands to temporary 4-star rank; see List of United States Navy four-star admirals.)

Winslow was recalled to active duty in World War I with the rank of rear admiral. He served as Inspector of Naval Districts on the Atlantic coast until again retiring on November 11, 1919. While in this assignment, Winslow's flagship was , a private sailing yacht acquired by the Navy for use during the war. Theodora Marie Winslow (1903–2007), who married Auguste Louis Noel (1884–1964), a Beaux-Arts architect. Their daughter, Carlotta Marie Noel, was married to Peter Van Courtlandt Morris (b. 1931), the son of Newbold Morris, president of the New York City Council.

Legacy The first two ships named honored his cousin, Rear Admiral John Ancrum Winslow, and honored Rear Admiral Cameron McRae Winslow as well.

Admiral Winslow's full dress uniform is on display at the Artillery Company of Newport armory and museum in Newport, Rhode Island.

Awards Sampson Medal Spanish Campaign Medal Mexican Service Medal World War I Victory Medal

Dates of rank Midshipman – 29 September 1870 Passed Midshipman – 21 June 1875 Ensign – 18 July 1876 Master – 21 December 1881 Lieutenant, Junior Grade – 3 March 1883 Lieutenant – 1 July 1888 Lieutenant Commander – 3 March 1899 Commander – 11 October 1903 Captain – 28 January 1908 Rear Admiral – 14 September 1911 Admiral – 13 September 1915 Retired – 29 July 1916