Page:Men of Mark in America vol 1.djvu/424



VANS, ROBLEY DUNGLISON, rear-admiral in the United States navy, has passed through all grades in our naval service from midshipman to his present rank, and is held in high honor for his soldierly qualities and his dauntless personal bravery. His daring and brilliant action, especially during his command of the Yorktown, at Valparaiso, Chile, in 1891, has given him the familiar name, "Fighting Bob." As commander of the battleship Iowa, he took responsible and active part in the destruction of Cervera's fleet, July 3, 1898. He has been president of the Board of Inspection and Survey, and in 1902 was made commander-in-chief of the Asiatic station.

He was born in Floyd Court House, Virginia, August 18, 1846. He is the son of Samuel Taylor Evans, a physician, and a member of the state legislature in 1855, and Sally Anne Evans. As a boy, he was strong and hearty, fond of guns, dogs, horses and sail-boats; and his life in the country gave him ample opportunities to gratify these tastes. On the death of his father, he worked most laboriously on the farm and became virtually the head of the family. He studied in the country schools near his home, in Virginia, in the public schools in Washington, District of Columbia, and at Gonzaga college in the same city. He was graduated from the naval academy, Annapolis, in May, 1863, but was ordered into service before graduation, becoming acting midshipman as early as 1860, since which time he has served continuously in the United States navy, passing through the successive ranks of ensign, 1863; master, 1866; lieutenant, 1866; lieutenant-commander, 1868; commander, 1878, and captain, 1893.

His active service began on board the frigate Powhatan. At the time of the assault upon Fort Fisher, he was in the North Atlantic squadron, and in the land attack on January 15, 1865, he received four severe rifle-wounds. In consequence of these wounds he was retired from active service. At his own request, when his recovery was assured, he was restored to the active list and was ordered to China in 1866, under Vice- Admiral Rowan, in his flagship, the