Early life William Frederick Halsey was born on April 11, 1853, in
New York,
New York, the son of Eliza Grace (King) and Charles Henry Halsey. He was a descendant of United States Senator
Rufus King. He was appointed to the
United States Naval Academy from
Louisiana and entered naval service a midshipman at the Naval Academy in September 1869.
Career As a lieutenant, Halsey was stationed on the (), (), () and was navigator of the in May 1898. During the
Spanish–American War the
Newark served as the flagship of Commodore
John C. Watson during the engagement of Aguadores and as part of the fleet blockading
Santiago, Cuba. That September, he received orders to the Naval Academy. In 1898 he became a member of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the
Military Order of Foreign Wars. Halsey was promoted to commander in 1902 and served as head of the Department of Seamanship at the United States Naval Academy. While a commander, he served as commanding officer of the (briefly, in 1905) and the (). Halsey was promoted to the rank of captain in 1906. He retired from the Navy, at his own request, on June 30, 1907, but continued to serve on active duty at the Bureau of Construction and Repair until 1919.
Death He died on June 11, 1920, and was buried in
Arlington National Cemetery. His wife Anne, who died on May 25, 1947, is buried with him, and his son,
Fleet Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, Jr. (October 30, 1882 – August 16, 1959) is buried beside him. ==Personal life==