Richard Wainwright Jr
Richard was born on the 15th of September 1881, in Washington DC, with a family history that had deep ties to the founding of this country, public service, and military service. He had relatives that served as the US Treasury Secretary under President Madison, the mayor of Washington DC, a founding member of the Texas state constitution, and his great-great-great grandfather was Benjamin Franklin. Both his father and grandfather (also named Richard) were high ranking Naval officers so of course Richard would follow in their steps and was appointed to the US Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1902. He was commissioned as an Ensign in May of 1904, and he then had assignments on several ships, to include being on the USS Connecticut during the Great White Fleet’s journey around the globe from 1907 to 1909.
Richard married Alice in 1910 when she was a secretary for President Taft’s wife, and the couple had two children. In 1911, he was assigned to the USS Florida and he was still on board when it deployed to Veracruz, where he would display actions that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914. Lt. Wainwright was eminent and conspicuous in command of his battalion; was in the fighting of both days, and exhibited courage and skill in leading his men through action. In seizing the customhouse, he encountered for many hours the heaviest and most pernicious concealed fire of the entire day, but his courage and coolness under trying conditions were marked.
Richard received orders to the Naval Academy five months after these actions and he received the Medal of Honor shortly after his new assignment. He would remain at the Academy until his medical retirement in March of 1921 and went on to serve as the superintendent of the Navy Department Library until 1929. Richard was recalled to active duty in 1942 for service during World War 2 and he received a promotion to Commander. Richard Wainwright Jr died on the 28th of March 1944, and he is buried in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland: Section 2, Grave 140A.
