Adolph Marix – Vice Admiral, United States Navy

Adolph Marix (April 24, 1848-1919), was an American officer in the United States Navy, who served in the Spanish-American War. The former executive officer of the battleship USS Maine, he served as recorder on the court of inquiry which investigated the ship’s explosion in 1898. He eventually rose to the rank of Vice Admiral.

Born in Saxony, he went to the United States while still a boy, and in 1864 entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, graduating in 1868.

In 1869 he was promoted to the rank of Ensign, and in the following year was assigned to special duty on the USS Congress. He was promoted master in 1870, served on the USS Canandaigua with the North Atlantic Squadron during 1871-1872, was commissioned Lieutenant in 1872, and served thereafter on various ships in the North Atlantic and Asiatic stations until 1879, when he was assigned to service in the Hydrographic Office. In 1880 he was ordered to the training ship USS Minnesota, from which, in 1882, he was transferred to the battleship USS Brooklyn, then with the South Atlantic Squadron.

From 1883 to 1886 he served again on the Asiatic station, after which he was assigned to special service in the Judge Advocate General’s office. In connection with his duties in this department he was sent to Australia (1888), and on his return (1889) was ordered to the recently re-commissioned training-ship USS Jamestown, from which he (1892) was transferred to the Hydrographic Office in New York.

In 1893 he was promoted Lieutenant Commander and assigned to the receiving ship USS Minnesota, until in 1895 he was transferred to the ill-fated battleship USS Maine, on which he served until January, 1898, when he took command of the USS Scorpion. He served as recorder of the Maine court of inquiry. In March 1899, he was promoted to the rank of Commander.

By act of Congress, Commander Marix was advanced two numbers for “eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle in two engagements at Manzanillo July 1 and July 18, 1898,” during the Spanish-American War.

Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson

MARIX, ADOLPH

• R/ADM USNR
• DATE OF DEATH: 07/11/1919
• BURIED AT: SECTION E DIV  SITE 1882
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

MARIX, GRACE F WIDOW OF ADOLPH

• DATE OF BIRTH: 06/03/1865
• DATE OF DEATH: 09/17/1962
• BURIED AT: SECTION 2  SITE 882 E.S.
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIFE OF ADOLPH MARIX, R/ADM. U.S.N.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

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