Williams graduated from the
United States Naval Academy in 1890. He served the required two years of sea duty in
Pensacola, before he was commissioned an
ensign on 1 July 1892.
Late 19th century/early 20th century assignments Williams served in a succession of sea and shore billets throughout the 19th century: the former in
USS Essex,
Columbia,
Yankee,
Buffalo,
Panther,
Richmond, and
Monongahela; the latter at the Naval Torpedo Station,
Newport, Rhode Island. In addition, he served on the staff of the Commander in Chief,
Asiatic Fleet, in 1899 and commanded the
torpedo boat Bainbridge in 1903 before commanding the 1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla. Reporting to
Wisconsin on 5 April 1905, Williams subsequently joined the
protected cruiser Chicago for a tour of duty which included participating in relief efforts at
San Francisco, California, in the wake of the destructive
San Francisco earthquake and fire which destroyed much of that city. In the years immediately preceding
World War I, Williams served as
ordnance officer in
Montana (
Armored Cruiser No. 13); commander of the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet; Inspector of Ordnance in Charge at the Naval Torpedo Station; commanding officer of the
cruiser Cleveland and later of
battleship Oregon, before he assumed command of
Pueblo, (Armored Cruiser No. 7) on 29 April 1917. He admired the
Czechoslovak Legion's holding
Kazan against the Bolshevik army, and gave a report about it to
T. G. Masaryk in America in August 1918.
Awarded the Navy Cross Williams — by that time a captain — was awarded the
Navy Cross for "distinguished service in the line of his profession" while commanding
Pueblo during
World War I, as the armored cruiser engaged in the "important, exacting, and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to
European ports through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines."
Commanding the USS New Mexico Detached from
Pueblo on 6 September 1918, Williams participated in fitting out the new
dreadnaught Idaho (Battleship No. 42) and later served ashore in the
Office of Naval Intelligence. He took the
Naval War College course in 1919 and 1920 before commanding the new dreadnaught
New Mexico (BB-40) from 31 May 1921 to 18 May 1922. After detachment from
New Mexico, Williams became the senior member of the Pacific Coast section of the
Board of Inspection and Survey.
Commandant of the 6th Naval District Reaching flag rank on 29 September 1922, Williams served as Chief of Staff to the
Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, and later as the Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, when the former command was reorganized. Detached from this duty in the spring of 1923, Williams subsequently served at
Charleston, South Carolina, as the commandant of the
6th Naval District before breaking his two-star flag in
Concord (CL-10) on 15 September 1924 as Commander, Destroyer Squadrons, Scouting Fleet. ==Final days==