The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Newberry, Truman Handy

NEWBERRY, Truman Handy, American naval commander and financier: b. Detroit, 5 Nov. 1864. He was graduated at Yale University in 1885 and entered the railroad business. His industry soon made him a prominent figure in business and financial enterprises of his State. Newberry was one of the organizers of the Michigan State Naval Brigade, serving as landsman (1895), lieutenant and navigator (1897-98). In the Spanish-American War he participated in the attack of the Yosemite on the Spanish munitions ship, Antonio Lopez. In 1899 he was appointed colonel and aide-de-camp to the governor of Michigan; and later became Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1905-08). On the retirement of Secretary Metcalfe, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy in the Cabinet of President Roosevelt, serving from December 1908 to March 1909. In the European War, Mr. Newberry was given the post of lieutenant-commander of the United States Naval Reserve, and is chief assistant to the commander of the third naval district.