Alfred Winsor Brown

Alfred Winsor Brown (November 6, 1885 – September 7, 1938) was a United States Navy Captain who served as the 31st Naval Governor of Guam. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1907, serving aboard a number of ships in many different capacities soon after. He returned to the Academy on staff before serving as the first commanding officer of USS Tingey. From 1924 to 1926, he served as Guamanian governor before attending the Naval War College and serving on the staff of a number of high-ranking naval officers. He then served as commanding officer of USS Whitney and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Soon after assuming command of USS Arizona, Brown died of a heart attack.

Alfred Winsor Brown
31st Naval Governor of Guam
In office August 26, 1924 – August 7, 1926
Preceded by	Henry Bertram Price
Succeeded by	Lloyd Stogell Shapley
Personal details
Born	November 6, 1885 Chelsea, Massachusetts
Died	September 7, 1938 (aged 52) Long Beach, California
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Nationality	United States
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy
Awards	Mexican Service Medal World War I Victory Medal Order of Abdon Calderon
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1903–1938
Rank	Captain
Commands	USS Tingey USS Whitney Portsmouth Naval Shipyard USS Arizona

Life

Brown was born on November 6, 1885, in Chelsea, Massachusetts.[1] He married Marguerite Boynton Brown, and had four children by her: Alfred Winsor Brown, Jr., Barbara Brown, Jean Brown, and Mary Boynton Brown.[2] He was considered very religious.[2]

Naval career

Brown entered the United States Naval Academy in 1903, graduating in 1907.[2] In 1906, he began service aboard USS Georgia, transferring to Asiatic Squadron and the USS Rhode Island until 1912.[1] In 1914, he transferred to USS Vermont before becoming navigator aboard USS Baltimore. For 1916, he served as executive officer aboard USS Paducah.[1]

In 1917, Brown returned to the Naval Academy as a staff member.[2] In 1919, USS Tingey launched with Brown in command and served with the Pacific Fleet.[3] He was stationed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility from 1923 until August 1924. He then served as Governor of Guam from August 26, 1924, to August 7, 1926.[4] While still a governor, from 1925 Brown was also a member and recorder of the Board of Inspection and Survey.[1]

From 1930 to 1931, Brown attended the Naval War College, after which he served in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and the office of the Chief of Naval Operations.[1] He became commanding officer of USS Whitney in 1932. From 1935 to 1937, he served as Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, before being appointed commander of USS Arizona in 1937.[2]

Brown died on September 7, 1938, in an apartment hotel in Long Beach, California, of a heart attack.[1] His funeral service took place aboard USS Arizona, and he was later interred at Arlington National Cemetery on September 14, 1938.[2] During his career, he earned three medals: the Mexican Service Medal, the World War I Victory Medal, and the Order of Abdon Calderon.[1]

References

1. "Captain A.W. Brown of the Navy Dies". The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. 8 September 1938. p. 23.
2. "Captain A. W. Brown, U.S. Navy, Detached from Command by Death". Broadside. United States Navy. XIV. 17 September 1933. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
3. Mooney, James (1981). "USS Tingey". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
4. "Naval Era Governors of Guam". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2011.