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Commodore Karl ROHRER, U.S. Navy
Commandant of Naval Station, Puerto Rico
Karl Rohrer was born in Blumberg, Baden, Germany on January 28, 1848, and came to the United States in 1857. He was appointed Midshipman on July 20, 1865. He participated in a cruise on the Macedonian in 1866, and on Savannah in 1867, and on Macedonian in 1868 before graduating from the Naval Academy in 1869.
He served on Sabine in 1869 and 1870, and was promoted to Ensign on July 12, 1870.
Between 1870 and 1874, he served on the Pawnee, Kansas and Colorado in the North Atlantic Squadron, and did ordnance duty at the Torpedo Station.
He was promoted Master on November 10, 1872. From 1874 to 1876 he served on Juniata in the European Squadron; from 1876 to 1878, he was stationed at the Torpedo station and Washington Navy Yard.
He was promoted to Lieutenant on April 26, 1876. On January 15, 1878, he reported to Constitution, and detached on leave, July 9, 1879, awaiting orders. From 1879 to 1881 he was on ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard.
From 1881 to 1885 he served on Essex, South Atlantic, Pacific and China Squadrons. From 1885 to 1889, he was on ordnance duty at the Torpedo Station. Between 1889 and 1892 he served on Chicago, Boston and Vesuvius, the latter with the Squadron of Evolution.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on December 5, 1897. On November 14, 1900, he was placed in command of the gunboat Annapolis, and was promoted to Commander eight days later, Annapolis departed Hampton Roads, Va., in December, and steamed to the Far East, staying there for three years, mostly in the Philippine Islands. Annapolis returned to Mare Island, California in June 1904, and was decommissioned.
On November 22, 1900, he was promoted to Commander.
He retired as a Commodore on June 30, 1906, however, on January 1, 1907, he is listed as Commandant of Naval Station, Puerto Rico.
Commodore Rohrer died May 29, 1913, in Washington, D.C.
MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES also known by its acronym MOLLUS or simply as the Loyal Legion, member, Vermont Commandery.
Other Comments:
20 July 1865, appointed Midshipman from Missouri
1869, graduated US Naval Academy
12 July 1870, promoted to Ensign
10 November 1872, promoted Master (LTjg)
26 April 1876, Lieutenant 5 December 1897, LieutenantCommander [temporary] 7 February 1898, Lieutenant Commander
23 November 1900, Commander [temporary]
29 January 1901, Commander
14 July 1905, Captain [temporary]
8 February 1906, Captain
30 June, 1906, Commodore [Retired]
1 January, 1907, recalled to duty
13 April 1911, Commador [Retired]
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1898-1900, USS Kentucky (BB-6)
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Kearsarge Class Battleship: Displacement 11,525 Tons, Dimensions, 375' 4" (oa) x 72' 3" x 25' 10" (Max), Armament 4 x 13"/35 4 x 8"/35, 14 x 5"/40 4 x 18" tt, Armor, 16 1/2" Belt, 17" Turrets, 5" Decks, 10" Conning Tower, Machinery, 10,000 IHP; 2 vertical triple expansion engines, 2 screws, Speed, 16 Knots, Crew 553.
Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Newport News, Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA., on June 30 1896, Launched March 24 1898, Commissioned May 15 1900, Decommissioned August 28 1909, Recommissioned June 4 1912. Decommissioned March 29 1920.Stricken May 27 1922.
Fate: Sold March 24 1923 and broken up for scrap.
Chain of Command USS Kentucky (BB-6), a Kearsarge-class battleship, was launched on 24 March 1898 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company of Newport News, Virginia sponsored by Miss Christine Bradley, daughter of Governor William O'Connell Bradley of Kentucky, and commissioned on 16 May 1900, Captain Colby M. Chester in command.
Other Memories Pre-commissioning and commissioning crew.
