Thomas C. Hart
| Thomas C. Hart | |
|---|---|
 |
|
|
United States Senator from Connecticut |
|
|
In office February 15, 1945 – November 5, 1946 |
|
| Preceded by | Francis T. Maloney |
| Succeeded by | Raymond E. Baldwin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Charles Hart June 12, 1877 Davison, Michigan |
| Died | July 4, 1971 (aged 94) Sharon, Connecticut |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Caroline Brownson |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (2) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1897–1945 |
| Rank |
 Admiral
|
| Commands |
USS Chicago Submarine Division 2 Submarine Division 5 USS Mississippi Submarine Flotilla 3 Cruiser Division 6 United States Asiatic Fleet ABDAFLOAT |
| Battles/wars | |
Thomas Charles Hart (June 12, 1877 – July 4, 1971) was an Admiral in the United States Navy, whose service extended from the Spanish–American War through World War II. Following his retirement from the Navy, he served briefly as a United States Senator from Connecticut.
Hart was born in Davison, Michigan. He attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduating 13th in a class of 47 in 1897. Naval policy at the time required two-years sea duty following graduation from Annapolis before a naval cadet was commissioned an ensign. Hart spent the next two years aboard the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-2). During the Spanish American War, Massachusetts became part of the American fleet blockading the Spanish squadron at Santiago de Cuba. Hart received a letter of commendation for his command of a steam cutter dispatched to reconnoiter Cabanas Bay for possible landing sites. Under a withering fusillade of fire from Spanish shore batteries, Hart completed the mission and returned his craft to the ship without any casualties despite the skiff being struck several times. Because of his ship handling skills, Hart was sent to augment the crew of a converted yacht, USS Vixen (PY-4) under Lt. Alexander Sharp Jr. and executive officer Ensign Arthur MacArthur III, older brother of Douglas MacArthur. The three quickly became life-long friends.
Following the Spanish American War, Hart spent two years on the sloop-of-war USS Hartford, after which he was posted to the Naval Academy where he taught ordnance and gunnery for two years. While at Annapolis, he courted Ms. Caroline Brownson, daughter of Rear Admiral and Mrs. Willard H. Brownson, then Superintendent of the Naval Academy and later commander of the Asiatic Fleet in 1906-07. Following his time at Annapolis, Hart served as a division officer on USS Missouri (BB-11) and then assumed his first command, the destroyer USS Lawrence (DD-8). Hart married Ms. Brownson on March 30, 1910. At that time, LCDR Hart was assigned to inspect the building of the new Delaware-class battleship North Dakota at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, to which he was assigned prior to its commissioning on Monday, 11 April 1910. They spent their honeymoon at the newly rebuilt luxury resort "The Homestead", in Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia.
...
Wikipedia