Andrews was born in
New York City, and was appointed to the
United States Naval Academy from New Jersey in 1882. He graduated on 1886 and, after the required two years of sea duty on board
USS Brooklyn and
USS Pensacola, was commissioned
ensign in 1888. He was transferred to the
USS Chicago in 1891. He also served on
USS Raleigh,
USS Newark,
USS Columbia and other ships, before being transferred to South Bethlehem where he was Inspector of Ordnance from 1898 to 1899. After more sea duty, he assumed his first command, the armed tug
USS Wompatuck in 1901. The tug was transferred to the
Philippines via the
Mediterranean Sea and the
Suez Canal under his command and provided support for US troops in the
Philippine–American War. Andrews became the navigator on
USS New Orleans in late 1902. He was promoted to the rank of
Commander in 1909. In 1912, he was appointed Chief of the
Bureau of Navigation with the temporary rank of
Rear Admiral. With his transfer a year later, he got his old rank of commander back and was promoted to
Captain in 1913 and commanded
USS Montana. In 1914, he took command on
USS Maryland. From 1917 to 1918, he was a staff member of the
Fifth Naval District in Norfolk, Virginia. In January 1918 he became captain of the battleship
USS Mississippi. He was promoted to full rear admiral in 1919 and became commander of the US Naval Base in
Cardiff. After the war he was transferred back to the US, but in June 1923 was appointed Commander of the
US Naval Forces in Europe and was temporarily promoted to
vice admiral. ==References==