CHARLES R. EMRICH, LT, USN
Charles Emrich '91
Charles Rolf Emrich was admitted to the Naval Academy from Illinois on May 19, 1887.
Photographs
Photograph from the collection of the Nimitz Library at the US Naval Academy.
Loss
Charles died of typhoid in Hong Kong on February 23, 1900. (Also mentioned in the New York Times and the Army and Navy Journal and Gazette).
He was stationed with the cruiser Brooklyn in the Philippines.
Other Information
The Register of Alumni lists his date of death as February 22, 1900 and his rank as LT but gives no other information.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In June 1893, Charles was appointed to the engineer corps.
During the Spanish American war, he saw service on the supply ship Southery.
He was an officer on the Baltimore during the Chilean trouble when some American sailors were murdered at Valparaiso in October 1891. He was an officer of the Boston when the American flag was raised and later lowered at Honolulu.
Charles' wife was Catherine Mathews Emrich. After Charles' death, she was a clerk in the federal government in Washington, D. C. Their children were Erle/Earl and Philip. Erle worked for the Commercial National Bank of the District of Columbia, Cristobal Branch. Philip received a Presidential appointment to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1918. He left the Navy on December 23, 1920, and became an engineer.
Charles' brother Roy Philip ('07) was once commanding officer at Pearl Harbor. Their sisters were Erminie and Lillian, a schoolteacher in 1900.
He was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on August 28, 1870; his father was editor of the Galesburg Plain Dealer.
It seems that he was on the promotion list; another officer was promoted in his place following Charles' death.
At the Naval Academy he was the captain of the football team his senior year; this was the first time the team played Army. (Navy won, 24-0.) The Army captain, Dennis Michie, was killed in action during the Spanish-American war.
Charles was survived by his wife; they are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He also has a memory marker in Illinois.
Career
From Naval History and Heritage Command:
Naval Cadet, 19 May, 1887. Assistant Engineer, 1 July, 1893. Passed Assistant Engineer, 22 December, 1897. Rank changed to Lieutenant, Junior Grade, 3 March, 1899. Died 23 February, 1900.
Memorial Hall Error
Illness is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.
Charles is the only member of the Class of 1891 in Memorial Hall.
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