Harry H. Caldwell
| Harry H. Caldwell | |
|---|---|
Harry H. Caldwell, 1901
|
|
| Born |
February 5, 1873 St. Louis, Missouri |
| Died | April 27, 1939 (aged 66) Brooklyn, New York |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1887–1909 1917–1919 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Spanish Campaign Medal Dewey Medal |
| Other work | Writer, Editor in Motion Picture Industry |
Harry Handly Caldwell (February 5, 1873 – April 27, 1939) was America's first submarine captain. He became the first naval submarine commanding officer, of any nation, when he assumed command of USS Holland (SS-1) on October 12, 1900.
Harry Handly Caldwell was born in St. Louis, Missouri in on February 5, 1873. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from Quincy, Illinois in 1887 and graduated in 1891.
Following graduation, during his mandatory two-year midshipman deployment, he served aboard the USS Concord. After promotion to Ensign, he saw service on the USS Monadnock, and USS Michigan. Other sea duty assignments involved protecting missionaries during the First Sino-Japanese War.
Prior to the Spanish–American War, Caldwell was serving on board the cruiser Olympia as flag secretary to Admiral George Dewey. As war with Spain grew imminent, Dewey move the fleet from Hong Kong to Mirs Bay. Ensign Caldwell remained behind, awaiting official word of war from the United States. When he received the declaration, Caldwell made a daring journey through hostile and undeveloped parts of China, by open boat and on horseback, to deliver the news to Dewey. During the Battle of Manila Bay, Caldwell took charge of dispatches and commanded a secondary battery aboard the Olympia, which made him eligible for the Manila Bay Medal. He was cited for his bravery and advanced in rank. Upon his return home to Quincy, its citizens presented him with a silver loving cup, an imitation of the gold one presented to Dewey in New York.
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