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Henry Francis Bryan

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Henry Francis Bryan
Governor of American Samoa
In office
March 17, 1925 – September 9, 1927
Preceded byEdward Stanley Kellogg
Succeeded byStephen Victor Graham
Personal details
BornMay 3, 1865
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
DiedMarch 19, 1944(1944-03-19) (aged 78)
Meriden, Connecticut, US
SpouseElizabeth Champlin Badger Bryan
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
OccupationNaval officer
AwardsNavy Cross
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
RankRear Admiral
CommandsUSS Monocacy
Office of Naval Intelligence
USS Leviathan
Special Service Squadron

Henry Francis Bryan (May 3, 1865 – March 19, 1944) was a United States Navy Rear Admiral and the governor of American Samoa. He served as governor from March 17, 1925, to September 9, 1927. Bryan was one of only three naval governors of the territory who had retired from naval service before serving as governor, the others being John Martin Poyer and his immediate predecessor, Edward Stanley Kellogg. In the Navy, he had numerous commands, and served in the Spanish–American War. His largest command was the Special Service Squadron.

Life

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Early life

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Bryan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 3, 1865.[1]

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Bryan became a cadet at the United States Naval Academy on May 2, 1883,[2] and graduated in 1887.[3][4] He served on both USS Isla de Luzon and USS Newark.[5] He also served on USS Monocacy,[6] which he commanded.[7] Bryan fought in the Spanish–American War. He later filled a post in the Office of Naval Intelligence,[8] where he also briefly served as director from December 1913 to January 1914.[9] He had been promoted to captain on July 1, 1913.[10]

During World War I, Bryan commanded USS Leviathan, for which he was later awarded the Navy Cross.[11] He was frocked as a rear admiral on September 21, 1918.[10] After the war, Bryan was given command of the Special Service Squadron, which patrolled the Caribbean Sea. In 1921, he and his squadron were commanded to protect United States interests during contention in Costa Rica and Panama.[12]

Bryan retired from active duty at his permanent rank of captain on December 31, 1921.[13] He was credited with additional active duty time for his service as naval governor of American Samoa from 1925 to 1927.[14] On June 21, 1930, Bryan was advanced to rear admiral on the retired list.[15]

Governorship

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Bryan assumed the governorship on March 17, 1925. While governor, he established the American Samoa Department of Communications.[16] Bryan was one of only three naval governors of the territory who had retired from naval service before serving as governor, the others being John Martin Poyer and Edward Stanley Kellogg.[17]

Bryan served as Governor during a period of peace following the turbulent years of Mau activities. He completed the work on a bill of rights, which had begun under Governor Edward Stanley Kellogg, and incorporated it into the Code of American Samoa. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of two new dispensaries, one in Amouli and another in Ofu. Additionally, Governor Bryan imposed a ban on malagas.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Sorensen, Stan; Joseph Theroux. "The Samoan Historical Calendar 1606-2007" (PDF). Office of the Governor of American Samoa. p. 109. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  2. ^ Hamersly, Lewis Randolph (1902). The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. L.R. Hamersly. p. 305. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  3. ^ "The Naval Graduates; Forty-Four Cadets To Leave the Annapolis Academy To-day". The New York Times. 10 June 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  4. ^ "Naval Intelligence". The New York Times. 1 July 1889. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Trial Gun Tests Postponed". The New York Times. 30 March 1901. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Army and Navy News". The New York Times. 17 August 1889. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  7. ^ Maclay, Edward Stanton (1902). A History of the United States Navy from 1775 to 1902. Vol. 3. D. Appleton. p. 438. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  8. ^ Official Congressional Directory for the Use of the United States Congress. Washington, D.C.: United States Congress. 1912. p. 247. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Directors of Naval Intelligence". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  10. ^ a b Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1 January 1921. p. 10. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Henry Francis Bryan". Military Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Two Warships Ordered to Protect American Interests in Disturbed Zone". The New York Times. 6 March 1921. p. 1. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  13. ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1 January 1925. p. 310. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  14. ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1 January 1928. p. 342. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  15. ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1 January 1934. p. 380. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  16. ^ Sorensen, Stan (21 December 2007). "Historical Notes" (PDF). Tapuitea: Official American Samoa Government Weekly Newspaper. II (31). Government of American Samoa: 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  17. ^ "Commander John Martin Poyer: March 1, 1915 - June 10, 1919". Government of American Samoa. 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  18. ^ Sunia, Fofō Iosefa Fiti (2001). Puputoa: Host of Heroes - A record of the history makers in the First Century of American Samoa, 1900-2000. Suva, Fiji: Oceania Printers. Pages 18-19. ISBN 9829036022.
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