William I., of Germany. These justly prized possessions went down with the Maine into the waters of Havana harbor, but were recovered by divers who searched the wreck of that ill-fated vessel. He was promoted commander in 1882; and captain in March, 1897, and in the following April was assigned to the command of the battleship Maine, which was so dramatically destroyed in the harbor at Havana, February 15, 1898. This tragic episode brought him into international fame, not only as a brave officer and true patriot but as an officer who had shown admirable self-restraint and judicial temper under the most trying of all conceivable circumstances. Upon his return to Washington, after the destruction of the Maine, he was tendered a brilliant reception attended by one of the most distinguished assemblages ever brought together at the national capital, including the president and vice-president of the United States, statesmen, diplomats, scientists, military and naval officers and many other distinguished guests.
During the war with Spain he commanded the auxiliary cruiser, St. Paul, and on May 24, 1898, cut off the Spanish fleet from its coal supply by capturing the collier Restormel. From September, 1898, to January, 1900, he was in command of the battleship Texas; he was the head of the Naval Intelligence Bureau during 1900-02; in command of the League Island, Pennsylvania, navy yard, in 1903; and subsequently he served on the Naval Construction Board and the Naval General Board. He was made rear-admiral August 10, 1903. Probably the best account of all the circumstances surrounding the Maine enigma and its consequences is contained in his "Personal Narrative of the Battleship Maine."
For several years prior to his taking command of the Maine, Captain Sigsbee was hydrographer of the navy department. While thus in charge of the hydrographic office, he developed many improvements tending to simplify and strengthen the hydrographic work of the navy—the data and material furnished the marine from both the practical and scientific sides. On the whole, his contributions to our knowledge of the sea bottom and its topography, place him in the front rank of scientific hydrographers. During his detail in charge of the hydrographic office, he was a member of the United States Board of Geographic Names.
In November, 1870, Admiral Sigsbee was married to Eliza Roger Lockwood.
