The New Student's Reference Work/Philip, John Woodward

Philip, John Woodward, an American naval officer, was born at New York City, Aug. 26, 1840. In 1861 he graduated from the Naval Academy, and served as midshipman on board of various vessels blockading the Gulf harbors and in the James River fleet. He became a lieutenant in 1862; lieutenant-commander in 1866; commander in 1874, captain in 1889; and commodore in 1898. He was wounded at Stone River during the Civil War, During the years of peace he made a tour of the world in command of Woodruff Scientific Expedition (1877). He was in command of the Texas during the fight off Santiago Bay in the Spanish-American War; and his request of his men not to cheer over their dying foes excited widespread commendation. He was a very earnest Chrsistian soldier, and led his sailors and marines in prayer at the close of the fight above mentioned. He for a time was in command of the North Pacific squadron, and later assigned to the command of the Navy-Yard at Brooklyn, where he died, with the rank of rear-admiral, June 30, 1900.