Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Brennan, Commander R. C. September 26, 1881 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 28, 2009, 12:36 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company COMMANDER R. C. BRENNAN. The career of Commander R. C. Brennan, secretary, treasurer and superintendent of the Oceanic Terminals, at Portland, has been one of continuous activity from early boyhood to the present time, and has been marked by a type of service that has gained for him enviable distinction in commercial maritime circles, as well as in the annals of his country's navy. His earliest dreams were of the sea and he was drawn instinctively to a seafaring career, to which practically his entire life has been devoted. He undoubtedly inherited his love for the sea, as his maternal ancestors for generations had been shipowners and masters, a number of them serving in the old East India Company. Commander Brennan was born in Oakland, California, on the 26th of September, 1881, and is a son of George Patrick and Agnes (Flynn) Brennan. He remained at home until eleven years of age, when he ran away to sea and joined the naval training ship "Mohican," on which he sailed for several months before his parents discovered his whereabouts, obtained his discharge and took him back home. He attended the public schools of his home city until fourteen years of age, when, in 1895, he shipped on the British square-rigged ship "Scottish Moor," of Dundee, Scotland, which vessel operated between the Pacific coast and the United Kingdom. During the three ensuing years he sailed on various vessels in different parts of the world, also doing some towboating and steamboating, and in 1898, in the expectation of being called into service in the Spanish-American war, he joined the Naval Reserves. Failing to get into active service in that line, he entered the United States Army transport service, signing on as a seaman on the transport "Meade," operating between San Francisco and Manila, and was on that boat for seven months, during which period he was promoted from seaman to quartermaster. After leaving that service, he was for awhile on various sailing ships, served for a time on the Pacific Mail steamships, and was later with towboats in San Francisco harbor. In 1906 he again joined the army transport service as chief quartermaster on the transport "Buford" and later on the transport "Thomas." At the end of one year's service, he quit and joined the Pacific Mail's steamship "Siberia" as quartermaster, but later joined H. F. Alexander's Alaska Steamship Company as quartermaster of the steamship "Buckman," now the "Admiral Evans," and remained identified with the Alexander interests for many years, the only break being while he was in his country's service during the World war. A short time after joining the "Buckman," Commander Brennan changed from quartermaster to ship's carpenter, which place he held until March 20, 1908, when he attained the berth of third mate on the "Buckman." In the course of time he became second mate and on August 6, 1910, he became mate of that vessel. Four days later an emergency arose which gave evidence of the stanch qualities and mettle of the man. The "Buckman," commanded by Captain E. B. Wood, was off the Oregon coast, steaming from Seattle for San Francisco, when, at three o'clock on the morning of August 10th, two pirates, traveling as passengers, slipped into the pilot house and shot and killed the master, their plan being to hold up and loot the ship and all aboard. The noise of the battle aroused Commander Brennan, who at the time was off duty and asleep in his cabin. In a few moments he, with others who had rushed to the scene, was in battle with the pirates, one of whom he shot and wounded and captured the other one, the wounded man jumping overboard to his death. Though Commander Brennan had not yet received his master's papers, he took command of the ship and brought it into harbor at San Francisco. For his quick and decisive action in controlling the situation, he received high commendation. In August, 1912, Commander Brennan, having in the meantime obtained his master's license, was given command of the steamship "Yukon," operating between the Sound and San Francisco, and soon gained a reputation as one of the most capable masters on the coast. Subsequently he served as master of the liners "Admiral Sampson," "Admiral Watson," "Admiral Farragut," "Admiral Dewey," the "Yale" and the "Harvard," the last two vessels being operated by the Admiral line between San Francisco and Los Angeles. In the meantime, Commander Brennan had joined the United States Naval Reserves, in which he was commissioned a lieutenant-commander, and in March, 1918, he sailed from the Pacific coast as commander of the "Yale," which had been taken over by the United States for duty in the World war. He took his boat to the English channel, where, from July, 1918, to May, 1919, he ran between Southampton, England, and Le Havre, Cherbourg and Boulogne, France, one of the most dangerous sections of the war zone waters. All told, he carried two hundred and fifty-five thousand soldiers, wounded men, prisoners, nurses and others across the channel. Until the signing of the armistice, the "Yale" ran at night without lights, operating at a speed of twenty-two knots, and sometimes as high as twenty-three knots, through the almost impenetrable night. Commander Brennan's work during the war period was of a character that not only won him the Navy Cross and a citation from President Wilson, but also brought him promotion to the rank of commander, he being one of the very few officers in the naval reserve to be picked by the select board of the navy, composed of admirals, for promotion to commander, which honor came to him on May 13, 1919. In the following June, at his own request, he was placed on the inactive list, though urged by high officers of the navy to remain in that branch of the government service. On his return to civil life Commander Brennan devoted some time in an effort to secure the establishment of a nautical school ship by the state of California, and was successful in securing the authorization of the same by the legislature, which body, however, failed to provide the necessary funds. Commander Brennan then rejoined the Admiral line as its marine superintendent in the Orient, with jurisdiction over all the Far East from Vladivostok to India, including Japan, China and the Philippines. He remained in the Orient from September, 1919, until December, 1921, when he was recalled to Seattle as port captain for the Admiral line. Six months later he was promoted to the position of superintendent and on April 9, 1923, was made operating manager, which position he held until October 1, 1927, when he resigned to accept his present position as secretary, treasurer and general superintendent of the Oceanic Terminals, in which capacities he has done such splendid work. A man of clear headed judgment, quick decision and systematic in his methods, he has proven the right man for the place and is contributing in very large measure to the successful operation of the terminals. Personally he is straightforward and unaffected in manner, is cordial and friendly in his social relations and throughout the range of his wide acquaintance he commands unqualified confidence and esteem. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 783-785 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/brennan713gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb