His position in the navy precluded his identifying himself with any political party. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. His strongest impelling motive in entering on his life-work was the ambition to succeed in his naval career, and this controlled his reading, which was mainly confined to professional works and history.
The most momentous event in Admiral Farquhar's life came on March 16, 1889, when he was at Apia, Samoa, in command of the Trenton during the terrific tropical hurricane which swept over the Samoan Islands on that day. The Trenton was wrecked in common with the remainder of the squadron, but by his excellent handling of the ship in that critical situation he saved the lives of his 450 officers and men. For his noble efforts in this contingency he was awarded the gold medal of the Humane Society of Massachusetts. In October, 1889, he was made a member of the Naval Lighthouse Board ; on March 6, 1890, he was appointed Chief of Bureau of Yards and Docks; and he was commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Newark in 1896. Later he became commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard. He was raised to the rank of commodore in 1897, and promoted to his present rank of rear-admiral on March 3, 1899. In October of that year he was placed in command of the North Atlantic squadron, succeeding Rear-Admiral Sampson. He was chairman of the Lighthouse Board in 1901-02, and was placed on the retired list April 11, 1902, having reached the age limit of naval service. Admiral Farquhar is a member of the Metropolitan club of Washington and of the New York Yacht club, and is an honorary member of the United States Naval Institute. His advancement in his profession has doubtless been largely due to "heedfulness and perseverance," combined with "strict honor and close attention to duty"; and this is the lesson he would have his career convey to young men.
