Henry Minett

Henry Minett was a career officer of the United States Navy who served during the SpanishAmerican War. Prior to retirement in 1905, he achieved the rank of captain. He is best remembered as one of the early acting Governors of American Samoa. Minett Islet in Alaska is named for him.

Henry Minett was born in Louisville, Kentucky and entered the United States Naval Academy shortly after his 16th birthday, on June 8, 1872. He graduated as a midshipman four years later, on June 20, 1876. In his early naval career, he was assigned first to the USS Swatara, sailing as part of the North Atlantic Squadron. After being promoted to ensign, he was reassigned to the USS Jamestown from 1879 to 1881. The Jamestown served as the guard ship for the port of Sitka, Alaska. Although he was only an ensign, a small islet in Sitka harbor, Minett Islet, was named for him. On his return from Alaska, Minett was assigned to the training ship USS New Hampshire in 1882. In the next several years, Minett also served on board the USS Hartford and the USS Lackawanna, before being assigned to the researchoriented Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island and sailed with the USS Marblehead for several years around Europe before returning to the United States in 1897. He served on board the U

Source: Wikipedia