James Russell Soley

The ship was named after the Honorable James Russell Soley who served as a First Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1890 to 1893. Mr. Soley was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 1, 1850. From 1871 to 1873 he was assistant professor of history at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and from 1873 to 1882 was head of the Department of History and International Law.

In 1876, Mr. Soley was commissioned professor in the U.S. Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and in 1880 was promoted to the rank of Commander. He served on special duty in Europe on the staff of the Commissioner General of the American Section at the Paris Exposition.

During 1882, Mr. Soley returned to duty in Washington, D.C. where he occupied a confidential advisory position in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. He resigned his Navy commission in July 1890 and was immediately appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Soley was largely responsible for the foundation and organization of the Office of Naval Intelligence. He resigned as Assistant Secretary in 1893 and commenced practicing law in New York City.

Mr. Soley died on September 11, 1911.