970:
1150:
38:
368:
325:
In 1919 after the war ended in Allied victory, Sims publicly attacked the deficiencies of
American naval strategy, tactics, policy, and administration. He charged the failures had cost the Allies 2,500,000 tons of supplies, thereby prolonging the war by six months. He estimated the delay had raised
219:
In March 1897, shortly after his promotion to lieutenant, Sims was assigned as the military attaché to Paris and St. Petersburg. In this position he became aware of naval technology developments in Europe as well gaining familiarity with
European politics which would greatly assist him during World
298:
The major threat he faced was a highly effective German submarine campaign against freighters bringing vital food and munitions to the Allies. The combined Anglo-American naval war against U-boats in the western approaches to the
British Isles in 1917–18 was a success due to the ability of Sims to
334:, and said his vantage point in London was too narrow to assess accurately the overall war effort by the U.S. Navy. Daniels cited prewar naval preparations and strategy proposals made by other American leaders during the war to disprove Sims' charges.
407:
Sims married Anne Erwin
Hitchcock, who was sixteen years his junior, in 1905. The couple had five children, three daughters (Margaret, Adelaide and Anne) and two sons (William S. Sims, Jr. and Ethan Sims). Mrs. Sims died in 1960 at age 85.
1284:
232:
As a young officer, Sims sought to reform naval gunnery by improving target practice. His superiors resisted his suggestions, failing to see the necessity. He was also hindered by his low rank. In 1902, Sims wrote directly to
President
380:
Sims retired from the Navy in
October 1922, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 64. In retirement he lived at 73 Catherine Street in Newport, Rhode Island. He appeared on the cover of the October 26, 1925 issue of
1229:
1051:
290:
sent him to London as the senior naval representative. After the U.S. entry in April 1917, Sims was given command over U.S. naval forces operating from
Britain. He received a temporary promotion (brevet) to
1044:
317:, Sims was promoted to temporary admiral in December 1918 but reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral in April 1919 when he was assigned as president of the Naval War College.
1197:
1190:
1183:
1176:
1169:
1037:
1259:
667:
341:. He did however serve a second tour as president of the Naval War College (1919–1922). It was during his time at the Naval War College that he wrote and published his book
1294:
1274:
1234:
1279:
274:
was the largest, most modern and most powerful ship in the U.S. Navy at that time. His selection as her captain shows the esteem in which he was held in the Navy.
715:
Michael
Simpson, "Admiral William S. Sims, U.S. Navy, and Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, Royal Navy: An Unlikely Friendship and Anglo-American Cooperation, 1917–1919",
642:
Rear
Admiral - Selected on 29 August 1916, but remained number 31 of 30 flag officers remaining in the rank of captain while awaiting billet until 23 March 1917.
1264:
1249:
1239:
879:, eds. John B. Hattendorf and Bruce Elleman (Newport, RI and Washington, D.C.: Naval War College Press & Government Printing Office, 2010), 1-10.
541:
1289:
892:
Simpson, Michael, "William S. Sims, U.S. Navy, and
Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, Royal Navy: An Unlikely Friendship, and Anglo-American Cooperation" in
802:(Washington DC). Tuesday, 22 June 1920. "Williams Honors Pershing. Admiral Sims and Franklin K. Lane Also Given LL.D's." no. 16,079, p 6, column 6.
286:
Sims was assigned as the president of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in February 1917. Just before the U.S. entered the war, the
241:, was intrigued by Sims' ideas and made him the Navy's Inspector of Naval Gunnery on November 5, 1902, shortly after which Sims was promoted to
337:
Despite the public acrimony, Sims emerged with his reputation unharmed, although some historians believe it cost him promotion to the rank of
516:
1254:
498:
In 1947, the Naval War College acquired an existing barracks building, which they converted to a secondary war-gaming facility, naming it
1011:
212:
in Newport, Rhode Island in 1884, to be the service's professional school. During the same era, Naval War College instructor Captain
185:
877:
Nineteen Gun Salute: Case Studies of Operational, Strategic, and Diplomatic Naval Leadership during the 20th and early 21st Centuries
746:
1269:
554:
326:
the cost of the war to the Allies by $ 15 billion, and that it led to the unnecessary loss of 500,000 lives. Secretary of the Navy
495:
The United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp panel on February 4, 2010. One of the stamps depicted Admiral Sims.
1244:
300:
155:
944:
238:
922:
904:
1162:
587:
314:
224:
during which Sims was able to use his diplomatic connections to gain information on Spain and its high-ranking officials.
20:
986:
Admiral Jellicoe Greets Admiral Sims, 20:53 to 21:35, and the First American Destroyers Arrive in England, 21:36 to 24:10
196:
Sims was born to American father Alfred William (1826–1895) and Canadian mother Adelaide (née Sowden; b. 1835) living in
1121:
292:
283:
889:(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1942), the standard scholarly biography, by the husband of his daughter Anne Hitchcock Sims
575:
396:
201:
952:
1064:
599:
568:
499:
421:
352:
165:
1021:
531:
246:
221:
313:
He ended the war as a vice admiral, in command of all U.S. naval forces operating in Europe. Shortly after the
330:
was more of a politician than a naval strategist, but he ably countered the accusations. He pointed to Sims'
1129:
438:
conferred the honorary degree of doctor of laws upon Rear Admiral Sims on 2 June 1920. Several weeks later,
257:
125:
310:, was failing to provide him with sufficient authority, information, autonomy, manpower, and naval forces.
526:
469:
442:
conferred on him the honorary degree of doctor of laws during its June 21, 1920, commencement exercises.
536:
392:
388:
and was the subject of a feature article. He was promoted to full admiral on the retired list in 1930.
307:
287:
88:
1224:
1219:
1077:
306:
Sims believed the Navy Department in Washington, which was effectively headed by Assistant Secretary
242:
1113:
1093:
847:
Coletta, Paolo E. "Naval Lessons of the Great War: The William Sims-Josephus Daniels Controversy,"
435:
338:
213:
979:
868:
Hagan, Kenneth J., and Michael T. McMaster, "His Remarks Reverberated from Berlin to Washington,"
1137:
1105:
720:
476:
343:
264:
234:
197:
177:
68:
875:
Little, Branden, and Kenneth J. Hagan, "Radical, But Right: William Sowden Sims (1858–1936)" in
812:
1085:
965:
882:
461:
453:
356:
253:
209:
135:
982:
held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy
204:
in 1880, the beginnings of an era of naval reform and greater professionalization. Commodore
1004:
974:
931:
840:
838:
Allard, Dean C., "Admiral William S. Sims and United States Naval Policy in World War I" in
561:
520:
439:
327:
985:
355:. Sims is, possibly, the only career naval officer to win a Pulitzer Prize. (Rear Admiral
184:, he commanded all United States naval forces operating in Europe. He also served twice as
956:
939:
926:
593:
382:
372:
205:
1029:
651:
Rear Admiral - Upon returning to the Presidency of the Naval War College on 11 April 1919
1149:
1060:
485:
425:
180:
who fought during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to modernize the navy. During
367:
1213:
429:
916:
331:
37:
961:
861:
Hagan, Kenneth J., "William S. Sims: Naval Insurgent and Coalition Warrior" in
181:
72:
772:
615:
865:
Ballard C. Campbell, ed. (Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources, 2000), 187-203
445:
Four U.S. Navy vessels have been named for Sims. Two ships have been named
940:
Naval History Bibliography, World War I, 1917-198, Naval Historical Center
359:
won two Pulitzer Prizes but only served nine years in the Naval Reserve.)
949:
446:
724:
260:
in 1911, he became Commander, Atlantic Destroyer Flotilla in July 1913.
692:
Crisis at Sea: The United States Navy in European Waters in World War I
482:
1285:
Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
263:
On March 11, 1916, Sims became the first captain of the battleship
366:
1033:
216:
was writing influential books on naval strategy and sea power.
176:(October 15, 1858 – September 28, 1936) was an admiral in the
899:
Steele, Chuck. "America's Greatest Great-War Flag Officer,"
612:
Cadet Midshipman, United States Naval Academy - 24 June 1876
282:
Shortly before the United States entered World War I, then
863:
The Human Tradition in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era
777:. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Co. p. 352.
416:
His account of the U.S. naval effort during World War I,
347:
which describes his experiences in World War I. In 1921
790:. June 2, 1920. "Columbia to Honor Five". p 6, column 3.
299:
work smoothly with his British counterpart, Admiral Sir
1230:
American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
920:(DD-409), Dictionary of American Fighting Naval Ships
492:
was commissioned in 1970 and decommissioned in 1991.
935:(AP-127) Dictionary of American Fighting Naval Ships
139:
U.S. Naval Forces Operating in European Waters (WWI)
950:
History of the Naval War College (from NWC website)
161:
151:
143:
131:
121:
113:
103:
95:
78:
55:
47:
28:
237:. The president, who had previously served as
16:American naval officer, diplomat and historian
1045:
980:William S. Sims Navigation Notes, 1892 MS 373
395:, in 1936 at the age of 77. He is buried in
220:War I. He was in this assignment during the
8:
654:Rear Admiral, Retired List - 15 October 1922
719:, Spring 1988, Vol. 41 Issue 2, pp. 66–80.
704:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
1260:People from Northumberland County, Ontario
1052:
1038:
1030:
993:
854:Hagan, Kenneth J., "The Critic Within" in
36:
25:
945:Register of the Papers of William S. Sims
887:Admiral Sims and the Modern American Navy
813:"Distinguished Sailors Saluted On Stamps"
19:For other people named William Sims, see
1295:Canadian military personnel from Ontario
1275:Canadian emigrants to the United States
1235:United States Navy World War I admirals
683:
633:Lieutenant Commander - 21 November 1902
1280:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
851:Sept 1991, Vol. 51 Issue 4, pp 241–251
645:Vice Admiral (temporary) - 25 May 1917
627:Lieutenant (junior grade) - 9 May 1893
657:Admiral, Retired List - June 21, 1930
648:Admiral (temporary) - 4 December 1918
252:From 1911 to 1912, Sims attended the
200:, Canada West. He graduated from the
7:
621:Ensign (junior grade) - 3 March 1883
1265:Presidents of the Naval War College
553:Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the
1250:United States Naval Academy alumni
1240:Pulitzer Prize for History winners
1012:President of the Naval War College
596:Distinguished Service Medal (1930)
590:Distinguished Service Medal (1926)
186:president of the Naval War College
14:
555:Order of St Michael and St George
1148:
870:U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings
747:"Burial detail: Sims, William S"
452:—the World War II-era destroyer
156:Navy Distinguished Service Medal
42:Vice Admiral William Sowden Sims
668:List of people on the cover of
468:. A transport vessel was named
239:Assistant Secretary of the Navy
971:Works by or about William Sims
896:, Vol. 41 (Spring 1988): 60-80
588:Theodore Roosevelt Association
511:United States military awards;
1:
424:. In 1929 was honored with a
21:William Sims (disambiguation)
1290:United States naval attachés
519:(declined in a dispute with
502:after its former president.
1255:United States Navy admirals
630:Lieutenant - 1 January 1897
576:Order of the Crown of Italy
517:Distinguished Service Medal
397:Arlington National Cemetery
202:United States Naval Academy
1311:
815:. USPS release no. 10-009.
600:Pulitzer Prize for History
422:Pulitzer Prize for History
353:Pulitzer Prize for History
166:Pulitzer Prize for History
18:
1157:
1146:
1072:
1022:Clarence Stewart Williams
1018:
1009:
1001:
996:
532:Philippine Campaign Medal
35:
1270:Naval War College alumni
894:Naval War College Review
844:35 (April 1975): 97–110.
717:Naval War College Review
1245:Admirals of World War I
1130:Charles Howard McIlwain
872:(December 2010): 66–71.
636:Commander - 1 July 1907
557:(United Kingdom) (1918)
901:Naval History Magazine
858:(December 1998): 20-25
771:Sims, William (1920).
639:Captain - 4 March 1911
527:Spanish Campaign Medal
377:
245:. He was promoted to
962:Works by William Sims
624:Ensign - 26 June 1884
574:Grand Officer of the
560:Grand Officer of the
537:Mexican Service Medal
460:and destroyer escort
393:Boston, Massachusetts
391:Admiral Sims died in
370:
308:Franklin D. Roosevelt
288:Wilson administration
114:Years of service
89:Boston, Massachusetts
1078:Jean Jules Jusserand
1005:Austin Melvin Knight
567:Grand Cordon in the
363:Retirement and death
243:lieutenant commander
222:Spanish–American War
1114:James Truslow Adams
800:The Washington Post
788:The Washington Post
475:. Additionally the
436:Columbia University
339:Admiral of the Navy
214:Alfred Thayer Mahan
174:William Sowden Sims
51:William Sowden Sims
1138:Frederic L. Paxson
1106:Burton J. Hendrick
955:2004-08-20 at the
925:2004-09-11 at the
883:Morison, Elting E.
774:The Victory at Sea
690:William N. Still.
506:Honours and awards
472:Admiral W. S. Sims
418:The Victory at Sea
378:
376:cover, 26 Oct 1925
349:The Victory at Sea
344:The Victory at Sea
235:Theodore Roosevelt
178:United States Navy
109:United States Navy
82:September 28, 1936
1207:
1206:
1086:James Ford Rhodes
1028:
1027:
1019:Succeeded by
997:Military offices
966:Project Gutenberg
933:Admiral W.S. Sims
849:American Neptune,
521:Secretary Daniels
357:Samuel E. Morison
321:Attack on Daniels
254:Naval War College
210:Naval War College
171:
170:
136:Naval War College
1302:
1200:
1193:
1186:
1179:
1172:
1165:
1152:
1141:
1133:
1125:
1117:
1109:
1097:
1089:
1081:
1054:
1047:
1040:
1031:
1016:1917, 1919-1922
1002:Preceded by
994:
975:Internet Archive
841:American Neptune
826:
825:Rd of 22.12.1919
823:
817:
816:
809:
803:
797:
791:
785:
779:
778:
768:
762:
761:
759:
757:
743:
737:
734:
728:
713:
707:
706:, Vol. V, p. 52.
701:
695:
688:
569:Order of Leopold
562:Legion of Honour
440:Williams College
328:Josephus Daniels
105:
85:
66:October 15, 1858
65:
63:
40:
26:
1310:
1309:
1305:
1304:
1303:
1301:
1300:
1299:
1210:
1209:
1208:
1203:
1196:
1189:
1182:
1175:
1168:
1161:
1153:
1144:
1136:
1128:
1120:
1112:
1100:
1094:Justin H. Smith
1092:
1084:
1076:
1068:
1058:
1024:
1015:
1007:
991:
957:Wayback Machine
927:Wayback Machine
913:
835:
830:
829:
824:
820:
811:
810:
806:
798:
794:
786:
782:
770:
769:
765:
755:
753:
745:
744:
740:
735:
731:
714:
710:
702:
698:
689:
685:
680:
672:magazine: 1920s
664:
609:
594:American Legion
564:(France) (1919)
548:Foreign honors;
508:
490: (FF-1059)
420:, won the 1921
414:
405:
365:
323:
280:
278:First World War
230:
206:Stephen B. Luce
194:
162:Other work
138:
87:
83:
67:
61:
59:
43:
31:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1308:
1306:
1298:
1297:
1292:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1212:
1211:
1205:
1204:
1202:
1201:
1194:
1187:
1180:
1173:
1166:
1158:
1155:
1154:
1147:
1145:
1143:
1142:
1134:
1126:
1122:Charles Warren
1118:
1110:
1098:
1090:
1082:
1073:
1070:
1069:
1061:Pulitzer Prize
1059:
1057:
1056:
1049:
1042:
1034:
1026:
1025:
1020:
1017:
1008:
1003:
999:
998:
989:
988:
983:
977:
968:
959:
947:
942:
937:
929:
912:
911:External links
909:
908:
907:
897:
890:
880:
873:
866:
859:
852:
845:
834:
831:
828:
827:
818:
804:
792:
780:
763:
738:
736:Coletta, 1991.
729:
708:
696:
682:
681:
679:
676:
675:
674:
663:
660:
659:
658:
655:
652:
649:
646:
643:
640:
637:
634:
631:
628:
625:
622:
619:
618:- 22 June 1880
613:
608:
605:
604:
603:
597:
591:
584:
583:
579:
578:
572:
565:
558:
550:
549:
545:
544:
539:
534:
529:
524:
513:
512:
507:
504:
466: (DE-154)
458: (DD-409)
426:Doctor of Laws
413:
410:
404:
401:
364:
361:
322:
319:
279:
276:
256:. Promoted to
229:
226:
193:
190:
169:
168:
163:
159:
158:
153:
149:
148:
145:
141:
140:
133:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
115:
111:
110:
107:
101:
100:
97:
93:
92:
86:(aged 77)
80:
76:
75:
57:
53:
52:
49:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
29:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1307:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1217:
1215:
1199:
1195:
1192:
1188:
1185:
1181:
1178:
1174:
1171:
1167:
1164:
1163:Complete list
1160:
1159:
1156:
1151:
1139:
1135:
1131:
1127:
1123:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1107:
1103:
1099:
1095:
1091:
1087:
1083:
1079:
1075:
1074:
1071:
1066:
1062:
1055:
1050:
1048:
1043:
1041:
1036:
1035:
1032:
1023:
1014:
1013:
1006:
1000:
995:
992:
987:
984:
981:
978:
976:
972:
969:
967:
963:
960:
958:
954:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
934:
930:
928:
924:
921:
919:
915:
914:
910:
906:
902:
898:
895:
891:
888:
884:
881:
878:
874:
871:
867:
864:
860:
857:
856:Naval History
853:
850:
846:
843:
842:
837:
836:
832:
822:
819:
814:
808:
805:
801:
796:
793:
789:
784:
781:
776:
775:
767:
764:
752:
748:
742:
739:
733:
730:
726:
722:
718:
712:
709:
705:
700:
697:
693:
687:
684:
677:
673:
671:
666:
665:
661:
656:
653:
650:
647:
644:
641:
638:
635:
632:
629:
626:
623:
620:
617:
614:
611:
610:
607:Dates of rank
606:
601:
598:
595:
592:
589:
586:
585:
582:Other honors;
581:
580:
577:
573:
570:
566:
563:
559:
556:
552:
551:
547:
546:
543:
542:Victory Medal
540:
538:
535:
533:
530:
528:
525:
522:
518:
515:
514:
510:
509:
505:
503:
501:
496:
493:
491:
489:
484:
481:
479:
474:
473:
467:
465:
459:
457:
451:
450:
443:
441:
437:
433:
431:
430:Bates College
427:
423:
419:
411:
409:
403:Personal life
402:
400:
398:
394:
389:
387:
385:
375:
374:
369:
362:
360:
358:
354:
350:
346:
345:
340:
335:
333:
329:
320:
318:
316:
311:
309:
304:
302:
296:
295:in May 1917.
294:
289:
285:
277:
275:
273:
269:
268:
261:
259:
255:
250:
248:
244:
240:
236:
227:
225:
223:
217:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
191:
189:
187:
183:
179:
175:
167:
164:
160:
157:
154:
150:
146:
142:
137:
134:
130:
127:
124:
120:
116:
112:
108:
102:
99:United States
98:
94:
90:
81:
77:
74:
70:
58:
54:
50:
46:
39:
34:
27:
22:
1102:William Sims
1101:
1010:
990:
932:
917:
903:(2013) 27#3
900:
893:
886:
876:
869:
862:
855:
848:
839:
821:
807:
799:
795:
787:
783:
773:
766:
754:. Retrieved
751:ANC Explorer
750:
741:
732:
716:
711:
703:
699:
691:
686:
669:
523:over awards)
497:
494:
487:
477:
471:
463:
455:
448:
444:
434:
417:
415:
406:
390:
383:
379:
371:
348:
342:
336:
332:anglophilism
324:
312:
305:
297:
293:vice admiral
284:Rear Admiral
281:
271:
266:
262:
251:
231:
218:
208:founded the
195:
173:
172:
144:Battles/wars
84:(1936-09-28)
30:William Sims
1225:1936 deaths
1220:1858 births
1067:(1917–1925)
301:Lewis Bayly
182:World War I
147:World War I
73:Canada West
1214:Categories
833:References
616:Midshipman
488:W. S. Sims
315:Armistice
96:Allegiance
62:1858-10-15
48:Birth name
1198:2001–2025
1191:1976–2000
1184:1951–1975
1177:1926–1950
1170:1917–1925
571:(Belgium)
500:Sims Hall
486:USS
470:USS
462:USS
454:USS
447:USS
265:USS
249:in 1907.
247:commander
198:Port Hope
117:1880–1922
69:Port Hope
953:Archived
923:Archived
756:July 27,
725:44636883
662:See also
386:magazine
351:won the
132:Commands
104:Service/
1065:History
973:at the
483:frigate
258:captain
228:Gunnery
126:Admiral
1140:(1925)
1132:(1924)
1124:(1923)
1116:(1922)
1108:(1921)
1096:(1920)
1088:(1918)
1080:(1917)
905:online
723:
602:(1921)
480:-class
412:Awards
272:Nevada
267:Nevada
192:Career
152:Awards
106:branch
721:JSTOR
678:Notes
428:from
1104:and
1063:for
918:Sims
758:2023
670:Time
478:Knox
464:Sims
456:Sims
449:Sims
384:Time
373:Time
122:Rank
91:, US
79:Died
56:Born
964:at
1216::
885:,
749:.
432:.
399:.
303:.
270:.
188:.
71:,
1053:e
1046:t
1039:v
760:.
727:.
694:.
64:)
60:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
