William S. Cowles

William Sheffield Cowles, Sr. (August 1, 1846 – May 1, 1923) was an rear admiral in the United States Navy.

Naval career
Cowles commanded the gunboat, USS Topeka (PG-35) during the Spanish–American War, and served as naval aide to President McKinley. He was in command of the battleship USS Missouri (BB-11) when it collided with the USS Illinois (BB-7), and when thirty-three men were killed in an explosion (he was cleared of responsibility in both cases).

He served as the Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet, and retired from the Navy in August 1908 after 45 years in service.

On December 2, 1908, Cowles submitted a report, prepared by Lt. George C. Sweet, recommending the purchase of aircraft suitable for operating from naval ships on scouting and observation mission to the Secretary of the Navy.

Cowles was an official representative at the coronation of King George V in 1911.

Personal life
On November 25, 1895, he married Anna "Bamie/Bye" Roosevelt, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and Martha "Mittie" Bulloch and elder sister of President Theodore "T.R." Roosevelt, Jr.. William and Bamie had one son, William Sheffield Cowles, Jr. (1898–1986). William and Bamie are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Farmington, Connecticut.