Giles Bates Harber – Rear Admiral, United States Navy

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ADMIRAL HARBER, NAVAL HERO, DIES
Commanded the Jeannette Search Expedition in Siberia in the Early ‘80s
Won Fame At Santiago
His Posts Included Commands of Both Atlantic and Pacific Fleets

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, December 30, 1925 – Rear Admiral Giles Bates Harber, 76, retired, died here last night of inflammation of the bladder.

Admiral Harber, who was born here, was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1869.  H spent considerable time at sea and as naval attaché in various European embassies.

In 1898, Admiral Harber was promoted five numbers for “eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle” in the war with Spain.

Burial will be at Washington.

Admiral Harber was probably best known for his work as the commander of the Jeannette search expedition in Siberia in the early eighties.  The young officer brought back the bodies of Lieutenant Commander De Long and his ten men who had died of starvation at the mount of the Lena.  His performance of the task in spite of great hardships has been described as “a magnificent example of the historic pluck and daring of the American naval officer.”

During the war with Spain, Admiral Harber was executive officer of the battleship Texas, and his gallantry in the battle of Santiago was recognized by Congress.  In 1900 he was appointed naval attaché at Paris and St. Petersburg.  Later he commanded the Atlantic and then the Pacific fleet, leaving the latter post in December 1911, to assume for the last year of his service the presidency of the Naval Examining and Retiring Boards in Washington.

HARBER, GILES BATES
REAR ADM U S NAVY RET OHIO

  • DATE OF DEATH: 12/29/1926
  • BURIED AT: SECTION D-N  SITE 3076
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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