Richard H. Leigh

Admiral Richard Henry Leigh CBE (August 12, 1870 – February 4, 1946) was a United States Navy officer who served during the late 19th and early 20th century. His service included active duty in the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, American Intervention in China, World War I, as well as numerous smaller actions in South America. His service during World War I led to the further development of hydrophone technology to hunt submarines. Following World War I Leigh rose to the rank of four-star admiral and served as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR) from 1931 to 1932 and as Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from 1932 to 1933.

Service history 1891–1898 On June 6, 1891, Richard H. Leigh received his first assignment and was ordered to the protected cruiser . Though this assignment was still considered part of his training at the United States Naval Academy, from which he had only recently graduated, it proved to be his first experience with the functions of the Navy on the seas as well as on land. At the time Chicago was assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron under Admiral John G. Walker as the squadron's flagship. During his service on Chicago Leigh patrolled Atlantic waters from Maine to the West Indies, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Leigh was subsequently ordered to , part of the South Atlantic Squadron. New York was soon dispatched to patrol the South Atlantic and to protect American interests in Brazil following the 1893 Brazilian Naval Mutiny. During his time on New York Leigh lamented at the ports and nations visited. He described the ports as "desolate revolution-ridden places." Aboard , a Department of Fisheries vessel, Leigh conducted deep sea fishing and other oceanographic experiments in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Albatross traveled extensively across the North Pacific, visiting most of the Aleutian Islands, Japan, Russia, and the Kingdom of Hawaii. However, before Justin was dispatched to the Caribbean Leigh was reassigned to the yacht for port protection duties in New York Harbor under command of Lieutenant William Kilburn. Aileen was charged with maintaining the minefields protecting New York. Leigh recalled that while this was not particularly exciting, he found it strenuous. In one incident, Pampanga came under fire near San Jose de Buena Ventura receiving more than one hundred hits from small arms fire in a little under an hour.

1901–1917

Leigh returned to teaching at the Naval Academy, becoming a mathematics instructor for both plebes and older students. After one year of teaching Leigh became an instructor on USS Chesapeake, a ship used for training midshipmen at the Naval Academy. In 1908 Leigh requested a transfer to be put in charge of the Navy's Nautical School and commander of the schoolship . He was denied and returned to sea service aboard . Washington made several cruises along the Pacific coast of South America before returning for refitting at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Navy Yard in 1911. After Galveston finished her outfitting in the Puget Sound Naval Yard she was ordered to join the Asiatic Fleet. Leigh transitioned well to his new role as captain of USS Galveston, receiving commendations from Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. Upon inspection by Admiral Winterhalter Gavelston and her crew were found to be excellent and fit for any duty with few exceptions. Gunnery on Galveston was particularly impressive under Leigh, winning the Naval Gunnery Trophy every year under Leigh's command.

World War I

With the American entrance into World War I in 1917 naval assets were deployed to European waters under Admiral Sims to counter German submarine raiders and surface threats. Leigh was sent along with several experimental listening devices, "K-tubes" and "c-tubes", designed to detect submarines. The United States Navy gave Leigh command over the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th submarine chaser squadrons and charged with training then deploying the squadrons against German submarine raiders. In order to conduct his tests the British Admiralty loaned Leigh three British trawlers as well as a P-boat, an auxiliary sub-hunter meant to externally resemble a submarine. He also received Order of Leopold by the King Albert I of Belgium. The Navy Department decorated Leigh with Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Leigh was promoted to the temporary rank of four-star Admiral on September 15, 1931 and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Battle Force stationed on Hawaii. After one year in this assignment, Leigh assumed command of United States Fleet, which combined the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Battle Fleet and Scouting Fleet under one command.

Admiral Leigh quickly responded when a major earthquake struck Long Beach, California and surrounding areas on March 10, 1933. He provided assistance to the city from US Naval vessels stationed in Long Beach harbor. Tents, food, doctors and medical supplies were delivered to neighborhoods struck by the temblor. By the next morning 2,000 sailors of the Pacific Fleet patrolled the streets, providing security and offering aid to stricken civilians. Civilian-military relations greatly improved as a result of Adm. Leigh's actions.

In June 1933, Leigh assumed his final duty as Chairman, Navy General Board, an advisory body of the United States Navy. He retired from the Navy with his permanent rank of Rear admiral on September 1, 1934 after 43 years of active service. Leigh was seriously ill with arthritis before the outbreak of the World War II and was not recalled for active duty.

The University of Southern California in Los Angeles awarded made Leigh made an honorary Doctor of Science in June 1933. Leigh was also active in the American Legion.

Admiral Leigh died on February 4, 1946, aged 75, in Long Beach, California and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. He was posthumously promoted to the highest rank he held, Admiral.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Admiral Leigh: