David H. Jarvis
| David H. Jarvis | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 24, 1862 Berlin, Maryland |
| Died | June 23, 1911 (aged 48) Seattle, Washington |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Revenue Cutter Service |
| Years of service | 1881–1905 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | US Revenue Cutter Bear |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal |
| Other work | Businessman |
David Henry Jarvis (August 24, 1862 – June 23, 1911) was a captain in the United States Revenue Cutter Service. During the harsh winter of 1897–1898, Jarvis, then serving as a first lieutenant aboard the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear, led the Overland Relief Expedition, bringing a three-man rescue team with a herd of about 400 reindeer across 1,500 miles of tundra and pack-ice to Point Barrow, Alaska, to bring needed food to 265 whalers whose ships had become stranded in the ice off the northern Alaska coast.
Jarvis was born at Berlin, Maryland on August 24, 1862. He was appointed as a cadet to the United States Revenue Cutter Service on May 28, 1881. On June 18, 1883 he was commissioned as a temporary third lieutenant and his first assignment was aboard USRC Hamilton, reporting at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 5, 1883. This assignment lasted a little more than two months as he was transferred from the cutter on September 11 for an undisclosed reason only to be reassigned to Hamilton again on November 24. While assigned to Hamilton his temporary rank was changed to permanent third lieutenant on December 26, 1883. During the time Jarvis was assigned to Hamilton, her cruising area was from Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey, to Bodie Island, North Carolina, including Delaware Bay. Jarvis was transferred from Hamilton to USRC Stevens based out of New Bern, North Carolina on June 13, 1885.
On March 16, 1888 Jarvis received orders that transferred him to the Pacific coast where he spent the balance of his career with the RCS. He reported aboard USRC Bear based in San Francisco, California for the first time on April 3, 1888 Aboard Bear, Jarvis made the first of many cruises on the Bering Sea Patrol. After his return from the patrol, he was transferred to USRC Thomas Corwin also based in San Francisco on October 18, 1888. Corwin spent the winter patrolling waters near San Francisco Bay and was docked for repairs when Jarvis received orders transferring him from Corwin on March 14, 1889. On January 2, 1890 he reported aboard USRC Rush based in San Francisco. While assigned to Rush, Jarvis received orders promoting him to temporary second lieutenant.Rush left San Francisco bound for the Seal Islands on June 5 and returned from the patrol on October 15 at Port Townsend, Washington. While assigned to Bear in August 1891, Jarvis helped load reindeer purchased in Siberia onto the decks of the cutter. The reindeer were transported to Unalaska in an effort to establish a herd and teach animal husbandry to the Eskimo natives. The experiment station was eventually moved to Teller Reindeer Station with the assistance of personnel from Bear. On 18 January 1896 Jarvis was promoted to first lieutenant.
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