Robert Henry Thurston. 

 1839-1903. 



Robert Henry Thurston, son of Robert L. Thurston, 

 was born October 25, 1839, ^^ Providence, R. I. During child- 

 hood and youth he spent much time in his father's shops (Thur- 

 ston, Green & Co. and Thurston, Gardner & Co.) where he 

 became acquainted with the engineering practice of the day, espe- 

 cially in relation to the design and construction of steam engines 

 and boilers and general power plant work. In 1859 ^^ gradu- 

 ated at Brown University with the degrees of Ph.B. and C.E. 

 From the same institution he later received the degrees of A.M. 

 and LL.D. 



For two years he was engaged with his father's firm, first at 

 Providence and later as their representative in Philadelphia. 

 In 1861, when the Civil War broke out and the question of ser- 

 vice to country became the uppermost thought in the hearts of 

 all patriots, he decided early in the summer to offer himself for 

 service in the engineer corps of the navy, as that branch of the 

 public service which best accorded with his personal tastes and 

 in which his previous experience might be of the highest value. 

 In accordance with this offer he was ordered to report to the 

 naval examining Board in session at Philadelphia. This he 

 did on July 9, 1861, and was examined in due course on the 

 25th of the same month. His commission as Third Assistant 

 Engineer U. S. N. was made out under date of July 30, 1861, 

 and on August 25 he was ordered to the U. S. S. Unadilla at 

 the Brookl3'^n Navy Yard. This vessel was fitting out for ser- 

 vice in southern waters and was put in commission September 

 30, sailing on October 18 and reporting in due time to Admiral 

 Dupont at Port Royal, S. C. After service in this vicinity for 

 about a year the vessel was ordered north to New York for 

 repairs, returning again in October, 1862. During the follow- 

 ing winter the Princess Royal was taken as a prize, and As- 

 sistant Engineer Thurston was ordered home in her in charge 

 of the Engineer's Department. This prize was taken in to 



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