Rear Admiral Joseph Wallace Oman was born in Light Street, Columbia Co, PA, 15 Aug 1864, the son of Mary Jane Shannon and Henry Freas Oman. He died in London, England, 1 Jul 1941.
In 1886 he was graduated from the United States Naval Academy, ranking fourth in his class. He was commissioned an ensign in 1888 and a lieutenant junior grade in 1896. He served on the Helena during the Spanish-American War and commanded the Mariveles in 1899 during the Phillipine insurrection.
After serving at the Naval War College, Newport, RI, he was commissioned lieutenant comander and named executive officer of the Lancaster in 1905. He later was appointed navigator and then executive foficer of the Rhode Island, being promoted to the rank of comander in 1909. After having served for two years as inspector of euipment at the New York Navy Yard, in Brooklyn, he successively commanded the Tacoma, the Des Moines, and the Maine.
In 1912 he was promoted to a captaincy and acted as captain of the Boston Navy Yard until 1914, when he was made commander of the North Carolina and then the Georgia. He became supervisor of New York Harbor in 1916, and the next year wa put in comand of Squadron Five, Patrol Force, Atlantic Fleet.
When the United States entered the World War the German liner Vaterland, world's largest ship at the time, was taken over by the government and renamed the Leviathan. Admiral Oman recommissioned the ship and commanded her on her first voyabe to Liverpool and back, during which she manoevered safely while carrying thousands of American troops. He was then promoted to the rank of rear admiral and put in command of the Second Naval District.
Admiral Oman was appointed the second Governor of the Virgin Islands in 1919, succeeding the late Rear Admiral Oliver, USN. During his jurisdiction the islands were very prosperous, as the rum industry, their leading business, had not yet been stopped by the passage of the Prohibition Amendment. The Colonial Council, advisory body to the naval governor, reached probably its high point in efficiency and effectiveness during his term.
He married Virginia Center Morse, daughter of William Horace Morse and Sarah Virginia Center, at St. Agnes Chapel, 91st St, New York City, in 1908. To them were born four children: Virginia Oman (b and d. Jul 1909), Joseph Wallace Jr, William Morse Sr, and Virginia Morse Oman (Poure).
In 1886 he was graduated from the United States Naval Academy, ranking fourth in his class. He was commissioned an ensign in 1888 and a lieutenant junior grade in 1896. He served on the Helena during the Spanish-American War and commanded the Mariveles in 1899 during the Phillipine insurrection.
After serving at the Naval War College, Newport, RI, he was commissioned lieutenant comander and named executive officer of the Lancaster in 1905. He later was appointed navigator and then executive foficer of the Rhode Island, being promoted to the rank of comander in 1909. After having served for two years as inspector of euipment at the New York Navy Yard, in Brooklyn, he successively commanded the Tacoma, the Des Moines, and the Maine.
In 1912 he was promoted to a captaincy and acted as captain of the Boston Navy Yard until 1914, when he was made commander of the North Carolina and then the Georgia. He became supervisor of New York Harbor in 1916, and the next year wa put in comand of Squadron Five, Patrol Force, Atlantic Fleet.
When the United States entered the World War the German liner Vaterland, world's largest ship at the time, was taken over by the government and renamed the Leviathan. Admiral Oman recommissioned the ship and commanded her on her first voyabe to Liverpool and back, during which she manoevered safely while carrying thousands of American troops. He was then promoted to the rank of rear admiral and put in command of the Second Naval District.
Admiral Oman was appointed the second Governor of the Virgin Islands in 1919, succeeding the late Rear Admiral Oliver, USN. During his jurisdiction the islands were very prosperous, as the rum industry, their leading business, had not yet been stopped by the passage of the Prohibition Amendment. The Colonial Council, advisory body to the naval governor, reached probably its high point in efficiency and effectiveness during his term.
He married Virginia Center Morse, daughter of William Horace Morse and Sarah Virginia Center, at St. Agnes Chapel, 91st St, New York City, in 1908. To them were born four children: Virginia Oman (b and d. Jul 1909), Joseph Wallace Jr, William Morse Sr, and Virginia Morse Oman (Poure).
Rear Admiral Joseph Wallace Oman was born in Light Street, Columbia Co, PA, 15 Aug 1864, the son of Mary Jane Shannon and Henry Freas Oman. He died in London, England, 1 Jul 1941.
In 1886 he was graduated from the United States Naval Academy, ranking fourth in his class. He was commissioned an ensign in 1888 and a lieutenant junior grade in 1896. He served on the Helena during the Spanish-American War and commanded the Mariveles in 1899 during the Phillipine insurrection.
After serving at the Naval War College, Newport, RI, he was commissioned lieutenant comander and named executive officer of the Lancaster in 1905. He later was appointed navigator and then executive foficer of the Rhode Island, being promoted to the rank of comander in 1909. After having served for two years as inspector of euipment at the New York Navy Yard, in Brooklyn, he successively commanded the Tacoma, the Des Moines, and the Maine.
In 1912 he was promoted to a captaincy and acted as captain of the Boston Navy Yard until 1914, when he was made commander of the North Carolina and then the Georgia. He became supervisor of New York Harbor in 1916, and the next year wa put in comand of Squadron Five, Patrol Force, Atlantic Fleet.
When the United States entered the World War the German liner Vaterland, world's largest ship at the time, was taken over by the government and renamed the Leviathan. Admiral Oman recommissioned the ship and commanded her on her first voyabe to Liverpool and back, during which she manoevered safely while carrying thousands of American troops. He was then promoted to the rank of rear admiral and put in command of the Second Naval District.
Admiral Oman was appointed the second Governor of the Virgin Islands in 1919, succeeding the late Rear Admiral Oliver, USN. During his jurisdiction the islands were very prosperous, as the rum industry, their leading business, had not yet been stopped by the passage of the Prohibition Amendment. The Colonial Council, advisory body to the naval governor, reached probably its high point in efficiency and effectiveness during his term.
He married Virginia Center Morse, daughter of William Horace Morse and Sarah Virginia Center, at St. Agnes Chapel, 91st St, New York City, in 1908. To them were born four children: Virginia Oman (b and d. Jul 1909), Joseph Wallace Jr, William Morse Sr, and Virginia Morse Oman (Poure).
In 1886 he was graduated from the United States Naval Academy, ranking fourth in his class. He was commissioned an ensign in 1888 and a lieutenant junior grade in 1896. He served on the Helena during the Spanish-American War and commanded the Mariveles in 1899 during the Phillipine insurrection.
After serving at the Naval War College, Newport, RI, he was commissioned lieutenant comander and named executive officer of the Lancaster in 1905. He later was appointed navigator and then executive foficer of the Rhode Island, being promoted to the rank of comander in 1909. After having served for two years as inspector of euipment at the New York Navy Yard, in Brooklyn, he successively commanded the Tacoma, the Des Moines, and the Maine.
In 1912 he was promoted to a captaincy and acted as captain of the Boston Navy Yard until 1914, when he was made commander of the North Carolina and then the Georgia. He became supervisor of New York Harbor in 1916, and the next year wa put in comand of Squadron Five, Patrol Force, Atlantic Fleet.
When the United States entered the World War the German liner Vaterland, world's largest ship at the time, was taken over by the government and renamed the Leviathan. Admiral Oman recommissioned the ship and commanded her on her first voyabe to Liverpool and back, during which she manoevered safely while carrying thousands of American troops. He was then promoted to the rank of rear admiral and put in command of the Second Naval District.
Admiral Oman was appointed the second Governor of the Virgin Islands in 1919, succeeding the late Rear Admiral Oliver, USN. During his jurisdiction the islands were very prosperous, as the rum industry, their leading business, had not yet been stopped by the passage of the Prohibition Amendment. The Colonial Council, advisory body to the naval governor, reached probably its high point in efficiency and effectiveness during his term.
He married Virginia Center Morse, daughter of William Horace Morse and Sarah Virginia Center, at St. Agnes Chapel, 91st St, New York City, in 1908. To them were born four children: Virginia Oman (b and d. Jul 1909), Joseph Wallace Jr, William Morse Sr, and Virginia Morse Oman (Poure).
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