Charles F. Shoemaker
| Charles Frederick Shoemaker | |
|---|---|
Senior Captain Charles F. Shoemaker, USRCS
|
|
| Born |
March 27, 1841 Glendale, Iowa Territory, U.S. |
| Died | July 11, 1913 (aged 72) Woodstock, Virginia, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/ |
 U.S. Revenue Cutter Service
|
| Years of service | 1860–1864, 1868–1905 |
| Rank | Senior captain |
| Commands held | Chief of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service |
| Spouse(s) | Rhetta Miller Shoemaker |
Charles Frederick Shoemaker (27 March 1841 – 11 July 1913) was a captain in the United States Revenue Cutter Service and was appointed in 1895 by Secretary of the Treasury John G. Carlisle to be Chief of the Revenue Marine Division of the Department of the Treasury.
Shoemaker was noted for his leadership in gaining improvements in the retirement system for officers in the Revenue Cutter Service and for leading the service at a time when there were many engineering improvements made in the construction of vessels used by the service. During his tenure he worked successfully with three different Secretaries of the Treasury as an appointee to improve the personnel standards and the vessels used by the service.
Although he was never formally known as Commandant, he is recognized today as the second Commandant of the Coast Guard.
Shoemaker was born in Iowa Territory on 27 March 1841. His father, William R. Shoemaker was an officer in the ordnance department of the U.S. Army and moved his family from one post to another many times during his army career. As a child, Charles Shoemaker was educated at home by members of his family and he became adept at mathematics. At 17, Shoemaker received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy from Miguel Otero, the congressional delegate from New Mexico Territory. At the end of three years, he resigned from the academy and was commissioned as a third lieutenant in the Revenue Cutter Service on 20 November 1860.
His first assignment was aboard the USRC Lewis Cass stationed at Mobile, Alabama. In the days leading up to the Civil War his commanding officer, Captain James J. Morrison, resigned his commission, turned the cutter over to Alabama state authorities and left Shoemaker to lead his officers and men back to Union territory. He served on several revenue cutters guarding the Port Of New York until 4 April 1864 when he resigned his commission to go into private business.
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Wikipedia