Templin Morris Potts – Captain, United States Navy

CAPTAIN TEMPLIN M. POTTS

Retired Navy Officer, Former Governor of Guam, Is Dead

PASADENA, California, March 22, 1927 – Captain Templin Morris Potts, U.S.N., retired, former Governor of Guam, died here today, aged 71.

Captain Potts was a native of Washington, D.C.  He was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1876 and attained his Captaincy in 1908.

He was on the Massachusetts during the Spanish-American War, helping destroy Cervera’s fleet at Santiago, was Naval Attaché at Berlin, 1902-04, served on the Board of Inspection and Survey the following year and governed Guam in 1905.  He was Chief Intelligence Officer of the Navy Department in 1910.

At the very end of his service, on July 2, 1913, a few hours before he relinquished his command of the battleship Louisiana, his quick handling of an emergency saved the ship.  While the Louisiana’s engines were being overhauled and overboard discharge valve bonnet blew off and the sea poured into the vessel through a six-foot twenty-six feet below the water line.  After a hard fight, the leak was plugged, the water pumped out and the Captain reported “no damage.”

There was some criticism of the Navy Department, then under Secretary Daniels, when Captain Potts was retired on the recommendation of a “plucking board.”  He was then at the head of the list for Captains and the next in line for promotion to Rear Admiral, but was denied advancement on the ground that he had not had enough sea service since becoming a Captain.

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POTTS, TEMPLIN MORRIS

  • CAPT US NAVY RET
  • DATE OF DEATH: 03/20/1927
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 4N  SITE 3206
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERT

POTTS, MARIE TEMPLIN W/O TEMPLIN MORRIS

  • DATE OF DEATH: 04/17/1937
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 4  SITE 3206
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
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