Zera Luther Tanner

Zera Luther Tanner (December 5, 1835 – December 16, 1906), sometimes spelled Zero, was an American naval officer, inventor, and oceanographer. Tanner invented a depth sounding system, wrote several books on hydrography and retired as a commander of the United States Navy in 1897.

Career

Zera Luther Tanner was born in Warsaw, New York, in 1835, the son of Zerah and Ruth (Foster) Tanner. The elder Tanner died when his son was one year old, so the younger Tanner worked in family farms until his late teens, when he apprenticed to a mechanic. Tanner traveled by ship to Great Britain in 1855, and because of ill health chose to take a longer voyage from Liverpool to Bombay, India aboard SS Culloden in 1856. After two round trips, one as third officer, Tanner chose sailing for his profession.

Returning to the United States, after Tanner served aboard American merchantmen, he eventually assisted several seaborne troop movements in the Gulf of Mexico.

Civil War service Tanner chose to join government service and was appointed acting ensign of the Union Navy in the summer of 1862. Tanner served upon the bark and the supply steamer during the American Civil War. When Rhode Island captured a British blockade runner in December 1864, Tanner was put in charge of the prize crew. During the Second Battle of Fort Fisher in 1865, Tanner commanded the boats from his vessel landing Union ground forces.

Two U.S. Navy ships have been named after Tanner. After World War II, , an attack cargo ship with service in the Okinawa campaign was re-purposed for oceanographic survey work and renamed . Tanner spent her career mapping significant coastline areas and was retired in 1969.

Selected works Deep-sea exploration: a general description of the steamer Albatross, her appliances and methods

Date of rank Acting ensign – August 18, 1862 Acting master – September 29, 1864 Ensign – March 12, 1868 Master – December 18, 1868 Lieutenant – March 21, 1870 Lieutenant commander – February 22, 1883 Commander – February 7, 1893 Retired list – December 5, 1897