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Rh at the Asiatic station, and to protect American interests in Foo Chow, during the bombardment of the Chinese arsenal by the French fleet under Admiral Courbet. During the Spanish-American war, he served in Commodore Sampson's fleet, in command of the Massachusetts, to which he had been assigned on July 22, 1897. He took part in the blockade of Santiago, and was placed in command of the naval detachment which acted as a convoy for the United States troops under General Nelson A. Miles at the time of their transportation to Cuba.

After the battle of Santiago, he was promoted commodore, and, on March 3, 1899, was made rear-admiral. In August, 1898, he was appointed chairman of the Lighthouse Board. His previous promotions and their dates, were: August 1, 1862, commissioned as lieutenant; July 25, 1866, commissioned lieutenant-commander; June 10, 1876, commissioned commander; September 27, 1891, commissioned captain. On May 1, 1901, he succeeded to the command of the North Atlantic station, and July 1, 1903, became commandant of the navy yard at Washington, District of Columbia.

Rear- Admiral Higginson is the author of "Naval Battles in the Century," published in 1903, a book of graphic description as well as of historic merit.