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USS RHODE ISLAND BB-17
"AMERICA'S GREAT WHITE FLEET"
Joseph Ballard Murdock, (sometimes listed as Murdoch) was Captain of the USS Rhode Island, a prominent ship of “Great White Fleet”. He entered the navy as midshipman from the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts July 26, 1866, and graduated in June 1870. He was born February 13, 1851, and was due for age retirement in 1913. He became an ensign in 1871 and was assigned to the Portsmouth Navy Yard in 1873. The next year was spent in the USS Monongahela, cruising in the South Atlantic; and in 1874 he went to the USS Lancaster. For five years, beginning 1875, he was connected with the Coast Survey. In 1879 he went with the training squadron in the USS Constitution. Becoming a lieutenant in March, 1880, he shortly after returned to the Naval Academy for several years teaching physics, and was in 1884 given special duty at Philadelphia for nearly a year. For a year from December, 1885, he was on the USS Dolphin; then at the Torpedo Station for several years; and in 1888 he was ordered to Pensacola, on the North Atlantic Station, for several months, going from there to the Asiatic Station in the USS Omaha, for three years. Upon is return fro the Orient in 1891 he was ordered to special duty in Europe, and immediately after that he was assigned to electrical duty at the New York Navy Yard. He was executive officer of the U.S.S. Panther during the Spanish-American War. In April, 1906, he was made a member of the Naval examining and retiring boards. Captain Murdock was placed in command of the USS Rhode Island as part of President Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet, 1907-1909. He then returned to New York, Naval District 3 as Rear Admiral, November 20, 1909, and Commendant of the Navy Yard, 1909-1910. Rear Admiral Murdock flew his flag on the battleship Minnesota (BB-22) as Commander, Battleship Division 3, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1910 until April 1911. In 1911 untll July 1912 he commanded the Asiatic Fleet and won distinction during the Chinese Revolution of 1911. He retired, by operation of law, February 13, 1913 after 43 years of service. For a year, during WWI he returned to duty as president of the general court martial at Portsmouth, from May 2, 1918 to May 1, 1919.
Joseph Murdock entered New Hampshire politics and served as Chairman of the House Committee on National Affairs, and a member of the Appropriations and Forestry Committees/Commission from 1921-1927. His memberships included the American Philosophical Society, the Franklin Institute, Union Club of Boston, Army and Navy Club of Washington, the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of the Colonial Wars. He died March 20, 1931, in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Other Comments:
America's (Great White) Fleet - Captain Murdock
Souvenir of the Visit of America's Fleet 1908. Captain Murdock was commander of the USS Rhode Island, BB-17.
Note the US and Australian flags, this example was printed for the stop in Sydney Australia.
REGISTER OF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS
SERVICE IN THE ARMY OR NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
RECORD OF THE PATRIOTIC WORK DONE BY THE SOCIETY PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE
GENERAL COUNCIL NEW YORK 1899
RHODE ISLAND SOCIET Joseph Ballard Murdock, Lieutenant, U.S.N., U.S.S. Panther
Spanish-American War/Battle of Santiago
From Month/Year
July / 1898
To Month/Year
July / 1898
Description Battle of Santiago
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1898
To Month/Year
July / 1898
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories The first USS Panther, the former Austin, an auxiliary cruiser built by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. in 1889, was purchased by the Navy from Red D Line Steamship Co. 12 April 1898, and commissioned at New York 22 April 1898, Comdr. George C. Reiter in command, Jos. B. Murdock executive officer.
Panther was pressed into service immediately after commissioning as war broke out between the United States and Spain. In April, Panther joined the North Atlantic Fleet, portions of which blockaded Cuba throughout the conflict.
Admiral Sampson received word from Key West early in May that Cervera's squadron was very likely at Santiago. Panther and other ships of the American fleet patrolled off that port until she steamed to Guantanamo 11 June with 646 marines, who landed at Caimanera and entrenched themselves in preparation for the ensuing battle. Panther withdrew to her former position with the fleet in the successful campaign at Santiago. After the destruction of the Spanish fleet, Panther steamed to New York, to cruise between New York, Boston, Norfolk, and Portsmouth until 20 October 1899, when she went into ordinary at Philadelphia.
