European Squadron

Military unit of the United States Navy

The European Squadron, also known as the European Station, was a part of the United States Navy in the late 19th century and the early 1900s. The squadron was originally named the Mediterranean Squadron and renamed following the American Civil War. In 1905, the squadron was absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet.

The Egyptian Expedition in June and July 1882 was a response by the United States to the British and French attack on Alexandria during the Anglo Egyptian War. To protect American citizens and their property within the city, ships of the European Squadron, under Rear Admiral James Nicholson, were sent to Egypt with orders to observe the conflict ashore and make a landing if necessary. British and French forces heavily damaged the city and started a large fire so a force of marines and sailors were landed and they assisted in fire fighting and guarding the American consulate from insurgents. Casper F. Goodrich, who served as an executive officer on the USS Lancaster, commanded the landing party and would later publish an extensive report on the bombardment.

The European Squadron returned to U. S. waters at the start of the Spanish–American War in April 1898, and did not return to Europe until July 1901, when Admiral Bartlett J. Cromwell was placed in command with the cruiser Chicago as flagship. Other ships of the squadron from July 1901 included the cruiser Albany and the gunboat Nashville.

NamePictureRankAssigned(Orders)Assumed(On Station)Relieved(Orders)Relieved(On Station)Flagship(s)RADM Louis M. GoldsboroughFebruary 1865 18 July 18651867 14 July 1867ADM David G. Farragut?14 July 1867CDRE Alexander M. Pennock?10 November 1868RADM William Radford?1869?2 June 1873Brooklyn?1875?5 October 18771878February 1879February 1883?September 1884Lancaster24 August 1887Pensacola?1889?August 1894RADM William A. KirklandApril 1894RADM Thomas O. Selfridge Jr. November 1895RADM John Adams Howell January 18989 February 1902ChicagoCAPT Joseph E. Craig(Senior Officer Present)?9 February 1902?April 1902?RADM Arent S. Crowninshield March 19023 March 190320 March 1903IllinoisCAPT James Henry Dayton(Senior Officer Present)BrooklynCAPT Harry Knox(Senior Officer Present)?16 February 1904?28 March 1904BrooklynRADM Joseph Coghlan?? ?20 April 1904?RADM Theodore Frelinghuysen Jewell?20 April 1904? ?Olympia In 1905 the European Squadron was absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet.