Admiral James Harrison Oliver

Updated: Sep 17, 2024

Research compiled by Jacob Whitehead

Overview

James Harrison Oliver was born in Houston County, Georgia, to Lt. Thaddeus Oliver and Sarah Penelope Lawson Oliver on January 15, 1857. He graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1872 and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1877. In 1893, he moved to Shirley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia, and married Marion Carter Oliver. He was named Governor of the Virgin Islands on March 28th, 1917, by President Woodrow Wilson. While governor, he was awarded the Nacy Cross for his actions in WW1. He retired as a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral In January 1921. He died April 6th, 1928, from heart disease and was buried in Shirley Plantation Cemetery, Shirley, Charles City County, Virginia.

Governor of the Virgin Islands

The purchase of the Virgin Islands from Denmark was a strategic acquisition. The purpose was establishing naval bases in the region to prevent attacks from rival naval powers, especially Germany. In an article for “The Worlds Work” Volume 34, George Marvin States, “An outlying main naval base in the north Caribbean is vital for the defense of our Atlantic Coast, the states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, and the Panama Canal against any strong naval power. The establishment of such a base, therefore, should take precedence over all other naval bases in or off the coast of the United States.”

For this purpose, Woodrow Wilson appointed Admiral Oliver, his Chief of Naval Intelligence, as the first Governor of the islands. He trusted that Oliver’s naval experience would be vital in establishing naval bases on the islands.

However, it was not simply the naval experience that landed Admiral Oliver the position of Governor. In 1914 (then Captain), J.H. Oliver wrote his own piece in “The World’s Work,” Volume 28, titled “Shall We Control the Pacific?” where he outlined the need for naval strongholds in the region and laid out a comprehensive strategy for the future military bases. His plans highlighted weaknesses that a more significant military power could exploit. These fears were exacerbated by World War 1, as Germany had a much greater military and threatened the rest of the world. Admiral Oliver was the obvious choice for the job of governor in this new strategic territory as America prepared to enter the great war.

Activities in WW1

The following is an excerpt from an article titled “Waking Up Our Virgin Islands” by George Marvin:

“We had only possessed the Virgin Islands a few days when we pulled them with us out of their drowsy neutrality into the Great War. In the meantime Rear Admiral James H. Oliver had arrived on the Dolphin and been installed as the first American Governor in Government House and in the hearts of everyone who met him there or anywhere else. On the day Congress declared war the navy department telegraphed Governor Oliver the prearranged code signal at four o’clock in the afternoon. At 8pm everything had been done; no talk, no lost motion, no confusion. All the floating Germans in the place were rounded up and placed on the Calabria, which had been incapable since the hurricane of moving under her own power. A guard of seven sailors from the Hancock, armed with Springfields and automatics, was put aboard the Calabria and five more on the deserted but seaworthy Wasgenwald. Three of the Hancock's motor-sailers, turned into guard boats by mounting Hotchkiss machine guns in their bows, took up their stations before sundown at the harbor entrances. All shipping was forbidden to leave or to enter the harbor between sunset and sunrise, range lights marking the channel were extinguished, and three wireless sets were promptly bagged.”

The Virgin Islands had been properly defended and were now perfectly positioned to protect our interests in the territory, all under the command of Admiral J. H. Oliver. For this service to our country, he was awarded the Navy Cross.

Personal Life

Admiral James Harrison Oliver was born in Houston County, Georgia, to Lt. Thaddeus Oliver and Sarah Penelope Lawson Oliver on January 15, 1857. His father, Thaddeus, was a Lieutenant in the Confederate army and died from battle wounds in Charleston, South Carolina, on August 20th, 1864, when James was seven years old. James left home to attend Washington and Lee University and graduated in 1872 when he was only 15. He then attended The United States Naval Academy until he graduated in 1877. He married Marion Carter in 1893 and moved into her family home on the Shirley Plantation. This would remain his home, while not serving as Governor, until his death on April 6th, 1928. Admiral Oliver never had any children, and their family estate was left to his wife’s cousin, Charles Hill Carter, Jr., in 1952. The Admiral and his wife are buried together in the family cemetery at Shirley Plantation.

Captain J.H. Oliver & Commander Charles Fredrick Hughes 1914

Captain J. H. Oliver & Commander Charles Frederick Hughes (1914)

New York Times announcement of Oliver as Governor of the Virgin Islands

Purchase of the Virgin Islands (March 31st, 1917) Rear Admiral J. H. Oliver (U.S.N.), pictured with Josephus Daniels (Secretary of the Navy 1913-1921), Constantine Brun (Ambassador from Denmark), Robert Lansing (Secretary of State 1915-1920), William Gibbs McAdoo (Secretary of Treasury 1913-1921)

Admiral J. H. Oliver, pictured with Admiral Henry, Major General W.L. Neville, Major. Jesse I. (1920)

Death of Admiral J.H. Oliver in Virginia at 71

New York Times article announcing the death of Admiral J. H. Oliver.

James Harrison Oliver

15 January 1857 - 6 April 1928

Chronology of Service

1857	Jan	15	Born in Houston County, Georgia.
1875	Jun	16	Appointed Cadet Midshipman from 3rd district of Georgia. Hon. Philip Cook.
1877	Jun	20	Completed four years' course at the US Naval Academy.
	Jun	20	Detached from Academy and W.O.
	Aug	18	To Hartford.
1879	May	1	Detached from Essex by Commande in Chief and sent home for examinations, 5th June.
	June		Graduated (final).
	Jun	18	Promoted to rank as Midshipman.
	Jun	20	Detached from Academy, leave till 15 August to re-examinations in September.
	Sep	19	Detached from Academy and W.O.
	Nov	6	Appointed Midshipman from 18th June 1879.
	Dec	8	To Swatara 20 instant.
1881	Oct	1	Promoted to rank as Ensign.
1883	Jan	24	Commissioned an Ensign to rank from 1 October 1881.
	Feb	20	To attend Artillery course Ft. Monroe 1 May.
1884	Apr	25	Detached 30th instant and to Pacific Station per Str. 20th May.
	Jun	11	On board Lackawanna.
1886	Mar	1	Transferred to Shenandoah then to Mohican.
1887	Jun	20	To the Coast Survey.
1888	Sep	28	Promoted to rank as Lieutenant (jg).
1889	Feb	28	Detached and to Naval Ordnance Proving Ground 11th March.
	Mar	12	Commissioned Lieutenant (jg) to rank from 28th September 1888.
	Apr	22	Detached 29th instant and to instruction in Torpedo College.
	Aug	6	Detached and to course of lectures - Naval War College.
	Sep	27	Detached and to Kearsarge 30th instant.
1893	Jan	21	To Ordnance Instruction Washington Yard 1 February.
	Feb	10	Detached 11th instant and Inspr. Hotchkiss Ordnance Works.
	Jul	4	Promoted to Lieutenant.
	Oct	27	Commissioned Lieutenant.
1894	Dec	7	To Minneapolis 13th instant.
1896	Oct	17	Detached and to San Francisco this date.
1897	Nov	29	Detached at once to Torpedo Station (Detached 13 December).
Dec	Dec	20	Delay reporting until 13 February.
1899	Sep	21	Detached 30 September and to Yankton as Executive 1 October. (Detached 30 September and reported 1 October).
	Nov	1	Detached and to Asiatic Station, passage on Solace 9 November. Detached 2 November, reported passage Solace 9 November.
	Dec	31	Detached and to Nashville. (Detached 31).
1900	Jul	23	Lieutenant Commander.
1901	Apr	1	Commissioned Lieutenant Commander from 23 July 1900.
1902	Mar	121	To Naval War College 18 March. (Reported 18 March).
1903	Dec	2	Detached 5 December and to duty with Glacier and to command that vessel when in com. (Detached 5 & reported 10 December).
1904	JUl	14	Detached when out commission and to command Culgoa. (Detached 30 July and reported 1 August.).
1905	Jul	6	Transferred to the Retired List from 30 June Section 8, Act. 3 March 1899.
	Jul	6	Continue present duties until further orders.
	Jul	25	Detached and to home. (Detached 11 & reported home 12 August).
	Sep	21	Unexpired leave revoked to duty as Asst. Inspector 14th Light House District, Cincinnati, Ohio and Inspector 15 October (Reported 15 October).
1906	Aug	4	Commissioned ad interim a Commander on active list from 30 June.
	Aug	13	Continue present duties.
	Aug	25	Executed oath of office.
1907	Jan	9	Recommissioned from 1 July 1906.
	Mar	21	Detached 31 March and to Naval War College. (Detached and reported 13 April).
1908	Jul	20	Detached 25 July and to West Virginia as Chief of Staff, Pacific Fleet (Detached 25 July and reported 1 August).
1909	May	4	Detached and to command Albany.
1910	Mar	16	Detached and to duty at Naval War College, Newport, R.I. (Detached 14 April & reported 10 May).
	Jul	1	Captain.
1911	Nov	9	Detached 17 November and to command New Hampshire 18 November. (Detached & reported 16 November).
1912	Jul	18	Detached command New Hampshire 25 July and to command Alabama. (Detached & reported 25 July).
	Sep	6	Detached on relief and to command New Hampshire. (Detached & reported 10 September).
1913	Nov	1	Detached on relief after target practice, home and wait orders. (Detached 12 & home 20 December).
1914	Jan	6	To duty as Director of Naval Intelligence, Navy Department, Washington, DC, 20 January (reported 20 January).
1916	Aug	29	Rear Admiral.
1917	Mar	26	Detached and to duty as Governor of the Virgin Islands of the US taking passage on Dolphin. (Detached 28 March; reported 9 April).
	May	7	Commissioned regular as Governor of Virgin Islands.
	Sep	21	Attained the rank of Rear Admiral Upper half (T) from 1 July 1918.
1919	Feb	26	Detached upon relief and to Naval Operations, Navy Dept., Washington, DC for duty. (Detached 8 April, reported 15 April).
	Jul	31	Attained the rank of Rear Admiral of the upper half 1 July 1919.
1921	Jan	3	Transferred to Retired List from 15 January 1921 as attained statutory retirement age of 64 years. (Act of 29 August 1916).
	Jan	8	Upon being placed on Retired List 15 January 1921 detached. (Office of Naval Operations, Navy Dept.) and to home.
1928	Apr	6	Died at Shirley, Virginia, this date.