John Hubbard

Rear Admiral John Hubbard (19 May 1849 – 30 May 1932) was an officer in the United States Navy. He fought in the Spanish–American War, played a prominent role in the independence of Panama from Colombia in 1903, and served as Commander-in-Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet. Naval career Hubbard was born in South Berwick, Maine, on 19 May 1849, the son of John Hubbard and the former Eleanor Augusta Tucker, and entered the United States Naval Academy on 27 July 1866. While there, he led the Academys rowing team to victory in 1870, serving as stroke oar on a Navy crew. He graduated on 7 June 1870. Hubbard served aboard the sloop-of-war on the European Station from 1871 to 1874, being promoted to ensign on 13 July 1871 and to master on 15 September 1873. He was assigned to the United States Coast Survey from 1874 to 1877, then served on special duty aboard the steamer from 1877 to 1879 – being promoted to lieutenant on 28 December 1878 – before moving to the Asiatic Station for duty aboard the sloop-of-war from 1879 to 1883. After duty at the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1883, Hubbard served at the Bureau of Navigation in Washington, D.C., from 1883 to 1884. He was on lighthouse duty from 1884 to 1886, then on special duty at the United States Department of the Navy from 1887 to 1888.