Robley Dunglison Evans.
Robley Dunglison Evans, better known as Fighting Bob Evans, was born at Floyd Courthouse, Virginia, August 18, 1847. His father was a physician and a farmer, his mother being the daughter of John Jackson, of Fairfax county, and sister of James Jackson, who shot Colonel Ellsworth for capturing a Confederate flag on the roof of his hotel. Robley was educated at a country school and Gonzaga classical school, Washington, D. C. On September 20, 1860, he was appointed to the United States naval academy by Congressman William R. Hooper, from the Utah Territory. He was made a midshipman in 1860, and promoted to ensign in 1863. In 1864 and 1865 he served with his ship in the North Atlantic blockade squadron. He saw considerable service in the West Indies, and, in the attack on Fort Fisher, in 1865, received rifle shot wounds which disabled him for a time. In 1866 he was commissioned lieutenant; in 1868 was made lieutenant commander, and was later assigned to duty at the navy yard, Washington, and still later at the naval academy, Annapolis. From 1877 to 1881 he was in command of the training ship Saratoga, and later was promoted to commander. In 1891-’92 he was in command of the United States naval force at the Behring Sea to suppress sealing. In 1893 he was promoted to captain. During the Spanish-American war Captain Evans was in command of the battleship Iowa, which achieved distinction during the battle of Santiago, when the fleet of Admiral Cervera made an attempt to run the blockade. He served all through the Spanish-American war, and, in 1898, by his own request, he was detached from the command of the Iowa and was assigned to duty as a member of the board of inspection and survey. He was married in 1860 to Charlotte, daughter of Frank Taylor, of Washington, District of Columbia.