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Photo # NH 48586: Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, USN, (1830-1902)

Lewis Ashfield Kimberly was born in Troy, New York on 2 April 1830. He was appointed a Midshipman in the U.S. Navy in December 1846 and served off Africa in the sloop Jamestown in 1847-50. He was in the Pacific on board the frigate Raritan during 1850-52, then returned to African waters in the sloops Decatur and Dale in 1853-1856. During the remainder of the decade and in the early 1860s, Lieutenant Kimberly was stationed at the Boston Navy Yard, in the East Indian Squadron with USS Germantown, and in the Mediterranean in USS Richmond. His Civil War service included duty with USS Potomac in the Gulf of Mexico in 1861-62 and extensive combat experience on board USS Hartford on the Mississippi River in 1863 and at Mobile Bay in 1864.

In early 1865, Lieutenant Commander Kimberly went to Europe with the frigate Colorado. Promoted to the rank of Commander in 1866, he commanded the receiving ship at New York in 1867-70, USS Benicia on the Asiatic Station in 1870-72 and the monitor Canonicus along the U.S. east coast in 1873-74. As a Captain, he commanded USS Monongahela on the South Atlantic Station in 1875-76 and USS Omaha in the Pacific in 1877-78. He also served at the New York Navy Yard during the early 1880s and was President of the Examining and Retiring Board in 1883-85.

Commodore Kimberly became Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard in 1885 and attained the rank of Rear Admiral in July 1887, a few months after he took command of the Pacific Station. He served there until the end of the decade and was senior officer present during the destructive hurricane that struck Apia, Samoa, in mid-March 1889. After duty as President of the Board of Inspection and Survey, Rear Admiral Kimberly retired in April 1892. He died at West Newton, Massachusetts, on 28 January 1902.

Two U.S. Navy destroyers have been named in honor of Rear Admiral Kimberly: USS Kimberly (Destroyer # 80, later DD-80) of 1918-1939; and USS Kimberly (DD-521) of 1943-1967.

This page features all our views of Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, USN.

For artworks made by Rear Admiral Kimberly, depicting aspects of the Samoan hurricane of March 1889, see:

  • Artists -- Lewis A. Kimberly.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 48586

    Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, USN


    Photograph taken during the later 1880s. During 1885-87, while holding the rank of Commodore, he was Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard.

    Courtesy of the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, February 1935.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 520 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97927

    Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, USN


    Photograph taken by Bradley & Rulofson, 14 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, California, probably during the late 1880s or the 1890s.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral R.R. Belknap, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 490 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63678

    Korean Expedition, 1871


    Council of War on board USS Colorado, off Korea in June 1871. Rear Admiral John Rodgers, Commanding the Asiatic Fleet, is standing to the right of the table, leaning on the chart.
    Other officers present are identified in Photo # NH 63678 (complete caption).

    Donation of John M. Wright, October 1937.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66308

    Korean Expedition, 1871


    Rear Admiral John Rodgers, Commanding the Asiatic Fleet, (standing to the right of the table, leaning on the chart) confers with other officers on board his flagship, USS Colorado, during the expedition, June 1871.
    Other officers present are identified in Photo # NH 66308 (complete caption).

    Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN(MC).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 630 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63405

    USS Nipsic
    (1879-1913)

    Jury rudder being made for use in the ship's voyage to Hawaii to receive repairs for damage received during the 15-16 March 1889 hurricane.
    Probably taken at Apia, Upolu, Samoa, circa April-May 1889.
    The men present are (from left to right) the blacksmith's helper, blacksmith and carpenter's mate who built the rudder as designed and supervised by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     

    For artworks made by Rear Admiral Kimberly, depicting aspects of the Samoan hurricane of March 1889, see:

  • Artists -- Lewis A. Kimberly.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 22 March 2002
    Links added 19 November 2004