Уильям Харрисон Стэндли: Американский адмирал и дипломат

United States admiral

William Harrison Standley (18 December 1872 – 25 October 1963) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who served as Chief of Naval Operations from 1933 to 1937. He also served as the U. S. ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1941 until 1943.

Standley was born in Ukiah, California, where his grandfather operated a hotel and his father, Jeremiah "Doc" Standley, was Mendocino County Sheriff. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1895. He then served the required two years' sea duty in the cruiser Olympia before he received his commission as an ensign in 1897.

During the Spanish–American War, Standley served in the monitor Monterey and later in the gunboat Alert. After the fighting with Spain had ended, he joined the gunboat Yorktown during the Philippine–American War. He received a commendation for bravery during a volunteer reconnaissance mission carried out at Baler, on 11 April 1899. In conjunction with a feint conducted by Lieutenant J. C. Gilmore, Standley, then an ensign, ventured into enemy territory to reconnoiter insurgent positions.

Recalled to active duty on 13 February 1941, Standley served as naval representative on the planning board of the Office of Production Management (OPM) for seven months. After leaving the OPM in the autumn of 1941, Standley served as the American naval member on the Beaverbrook Harriman Special War Supply Mission to the Soviet Union. Upon his return, Standley became a member of the Navy Board for Production Awards. When President Roosevelt established the Roberts Commission to investigate the attack on Pearl Harbor, he selected Admiral Standley as one of the members of that sensitive body that studied the attack into early 1942. In February 1942, Standley was appointed American Ambassador to the USSR, a post he held into the autumn of 1943. Subsequently recalled to active duty once more, in March 1944, Standley served in the Office of Strategic Services throughout the remaining period of hostilities. Relieved of all active duty on 31 August 1945, Standley lived in retirement at San Diego, California, until his death on 25 October 1963.

The cruiser William H. Standley was named in his honor. Admiral William Standley State Recreation Area, a California state recreation area, is also named for him, as is Standley middle school in San Diego. There is also a City of San Diego Recreation Center named in his honor.