The New International Encyclopædia/Wainwright, Richard

WAINWRIGHT, Richard (1849—). An American naval officer, born in Washington, D.C. He graduated at the United States Naval Academy in 1868, became a lieutenant in 1873, commanded the coast-survey vessel Arago for a time, was successively flag-lieutenant to Admiral Patterson, commanding on the Asiatic Station, and secretary to Admiral Jouett, commanding the North Atlantic Squadron, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-commander in 1894. In February, 1898, he was executive officer of the battleship Maine, when that vessel was destroyed in Havana Harbor, and during the Spanish-American War he commanded the converted yacht Gloucester, taking a distinguished part in the naval battle of Santiago and being largely responsible for the destruction of Cervera's torpedo-boat destroyers, the Pluton and the Furor. In March, 1899, he was promoted to the rank of commander, and in March, 1900. became superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.