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William S. Benson
1855-1932
Following graduation, Benson served at sea and made a round the world cruise in the new dispatch boat USS Dolphin. He was involved in coast survey and hydrographic duties and was an instructor at the Naval Academy. In 1911, Captain Benson became the first commanding officer of the battleship Utah. As tensions heightened on the eve of World War I, Benson was promoted to rear admiral and became the first Chief of Naval Operations. Promoted to admiral in 1916, he oversaw the wartime expansion of the Navy and its operations in Europe. After the armistice, Benson participated in the peace negotiations in France. |