United States Navy Rear Admiral. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1863 and graduated in 1867. He was promoted to Ensign in 1868 and was assigned to the Gunboat Wateree. Taussig had numerous assignments before being promoted to Commander in August of 1898 including tours of duty aboard the U.S.S. Richmond in 1895 and the U.S.S. Blake. During the Spanish American War he commanded the U.S.S. Bennington. In December of 1898 he was ordered by President McKinley to go to Wake Island and claim it for the United States. He formally claimed the uninhabited Wake Island on January 17, 1899. Taking Wake Island was a strategic move for the United States because it was midway between Hawaii and the Philippines. He then went and recaptured Guam as there was a great deal of disturbance in the territory, on February 1, 1899. He was temporarily the Governor of Guam until he established a council to rule it. In 1892, he was assigned to a school ship, the U.S.S. Enterprise, operating out of the Boston Naval Yard and in 1899 was assigned to duty with the Lighthouse Bureau. In addition to his other commands he was Commandant of the Newport Navy Yard and the Commandant of the Fifth Naval District. In 1906 Taussig was the Commanding Officer of the Battleship Indiana. He attained the rank of Rear Admiral in May of 1908 and retired from the Navy in November of 1909. When the United States entered World War I, Taussig was recalled to active duty as Commandant of the Naval Unit at Columbia University. To honor his memory the Navy commissioned the Destroyer U.S.S. Taussig in his honor.
United States Navy Rear Admiral. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1863 and graduated in 1867. He was promoted to Ensign in 1868 and was assigned to the Gunboat Wateree. Taussig had numerous assignments before being promoted to Commander in August of 1898 including tours of duty aboard the U.S.S. Richmond in 1895 and the U.S.S. Blake. During the Spanish American War he commanded the U.S.S. Bennington. In December of 1898 he was ordered by President McKinley to go to Wake Island and claim it for the United States. He formally claimed the uninhabited Wake Island on January 17, 1899. Taking Wake Island was a strategic move for the United States because it was midway between Hawaii and the Philippines. He then went and recaptured Guam as there was a great deal of disturbance in the territory, on February 1, 1899. He was temporarily the Governor of Guam until he established a council to rule it. In 1892, he was assigned to a school ship, the U.S.S. Enterprise, operating out of the Boston Naval Yard and in 1899 was assigned to duty with the Lighthouse Bureau. In addition to his other commands he was Commandant of the Newport Navy Yard and the Commandant of the Fifth Naval District. In 1906 Taussig was the Commanding Officer of the Battleship Indiana. He attained the rank of Rear Admiral in May of 1908 and retired from the Navy in November of 1909. When the United States entered World War I, Taussig was recalled to active duty as Commandant of the Naval Unit at Columbia University. To honor his memory the Navy commissioned the Destroyer U.S.S. Taussig in his honor.
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