Franck Taylor Evans

Franck Taylor Evans (9 September 1875 – 8 March 1934) was a captain in the United States Navy.

Life

Franck Taylor Evans was born in Switzerland on September 9, 1875. His father was Robley D. Evans, a rear admiral in the US Navy.[1] He joined the navy in 1894,[2] graduating in 1898, and joined the crew of the USS Iowa, then captained by his father, seeing action in the Battle of Santiago.[1]

In 1908, while on the crew of the USS Louisiana, he was briefly arrested in San Francisco for drawing his revolver to protect two of his crewmen in a fight in a dance hall.[1][3][2] Separately, he was court-martialled for fighting, intoxication, and swearing at a superior officer.[2] In World War II he commanded the destroyer USS May. In 1917 he established the naval air station in Lakehurst, New Jersey, and in 1918 took over the naval air station at Pauillac in France. He returned to Lakehurst in 1921, and was the commanding officer there for three more years. He spent two years in charge of the Newport Naval Training Station, and then took command of the cruiser USS Pittsburgh. He was in charge of the Brooklyn Navy Yard from 1927 to 1929, and commanded the USS Idaho for a year, retiring in September 1930.[1]

He was one of the first naval officers to use a smoke screen in battle.[3]

He was awared the Navy Cross, and received awards from other countries, including the Legion of Honour from France, and decorations from Spain, Greece, Italy, and Japan.[1] He was married twice; first to Gertrude Pullman, whom he married in August 1907, and second to Enid Scarritt.[1][2] He died in Brooklyn on 8 March 1934.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Captain F. T. Evans, War Veteran, Dead: Son of Noted Rear Admiral, He Served Against Spain and in the World War". The New York Times. March 9, 1934. p. 19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Son of "Fighting Bob"". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. October 27, 1908. p. 8. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "The Son of "Fighting Bob"". The Wellsboro Agitator. Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. December 2, 1908. p. 2. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
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