CAPTAIN TAUSSIG OF THE BENNINGTON
Photo courtesy of the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Edward David Taussig was born 20 Nov 1847 in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy from July of 1863 through June of 1867. He was appointed commander on 10 August 1898 and given command of the gunboat USS Bennington. It departed San Francisco on 18 September 1898 for the Western Pacific. After a stop in Hawaii and prior to coming to Guam, Commander Taussig raised the American flag over Wake Island, formally taking possession of the island for the United States.
The USS Bennington arrived on Guam 23 January 1899. Commander Taussig took possession of the island in a ceremony at the Governor's Palace where he raised the American flag and offered a 21-gun salute from the USS Bennington. His first order of business was to issue general orders to continue the Spanish laws in force at the time and to audit the treasury. He also took possession of all public lands bordering on the port of San Luis de Apra. He appointed Joaquin Perez y Cruz as acting governor and set up a local advisory council system of temporary government. Taussig also supervised the establishment of signal stations and a port survey.
For more information see:
Rogers, Robert F. 1995. Destiny's Landfall, A History of Guam. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
The USS Bennington arrived on Guam 23 January 1899. Commander Taussig took possession of the island in a ceremony at the Governor's Palace where he raised the American flag and offered a 21-gun salute from the USS Bennington. His first order of business was to issue general orders to continue the Spanish laws in force at the time and to audit the treasury. He also took possession of all public lands bordering on the port of San Luis de Apra. He appointed Joaquin Perez y Cruz as acting governor and set up a local advisory council system of temporary government. Taussig also supervised the establishment of signal stations and a port survey.
For more information see:
Rogers, Robert F. 1995. Destiny's Landfall, A History of Guam. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.