Henry Erben (5 September 1832 – 23 October 1909) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who served in the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War. His father, also named Henry Erben (1800–1884), was a prominent builder of pipe organs.
Biography
Erben was born in New York City, and he entered the Navy as a midshipman on 17 June 1848. to master on 16 September 1855, In April Erben reported aboard , and was ordered to the Mississippi Flotilla on 5 September 1861. There he commanded the ironclad from April to June 1862, and the from June to July 1862.
Erben was promoted to commander on 6 May 1868 and in late 1874 took over command of the USS Tuscarora from George Belknap. As part of this command the ship took soundings of the ocean bottom and discovered a seamount which became known as the Erben seamount, named after its commander.
Erben was promoted to captain on 1 November 1879
Promoted to commodore on 3 April 1892, and was then appointed commander-in-chief of the European Station, serving from June 1893 until August 1894,
Rear Admiral Erben died in New York City in 1909. apprenticed in 1818 to Thomas Hall, an organ builder. The admiral's grandfather Peter Erben (born in Philadelphia in 1771; died in New York City in 1863) was an organist. After the death of his father, who was one of the early German settlers in Pennsylvania, Peter moved to New York City, where he became an organ builder, and was also organist in Trinity parish from 1807 until 1839.
Article by Capt. John M. Ellicott, USN (Ret.), '83
Seadog vs. Scholar - The Erben - Mahan Feud
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