Henry Thomas Mayo

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Henry Thomas Mayo was born in Burlington, VT, on 8 December 1856. Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1876, he experienced a variety of naval duties including coastal survey.

During the Spanish-American War, he served in the gunboat USS Bennington (PG-4) off the west coast of North America. Appointed Rear Admiral in 1913, he commanded the naval squadron involved in the Tampico incident of 9 April 1914. His demands for vindication of national honor further accentuated the tense relations with Mexico.

Promoted to Vice Admiral in June 1915, as the new Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, he received the four-star rank of Admiral on 19 June 1916. For his organization and support of the wartime U.S. Naval Forces both in American and European waters, he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and various foreign decorations. He evidenced foresight in urging the postwar development of fleet aviation.

Admiral Mayo retired 28 February 1921.

In Retirement

He served as Governor of the Philadelphia Naval Home for four years. He retained his commission as an Admiral by a 1930 Act of Congress.

Medals and Awards

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Honors

In 1940, the destroyer USS Mayo (DD-422) was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Admiral Henry Thomas Mayo died at Portsmouth, NH, on 23 February 1937. He is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington, VT.