US naval officer, born in Dresden, Germany (while his American father served in the European Squadron). Wounded during service in China's Boxer Rebellion, he commanded destroyers in World War 1. During 192036 he served mainly at the Naval College or in staff positions, and although he seemed marked for the navy's top post, a longstanding feud with Franklin Roosevelt sidelined his career. In 1943 he was recalled to active service to head the naval clemency board.
Joseph Knefler Taussig (30 August 1877 - 29 October 1947) was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy. He served in the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. Taussig, Joseph Taussig was born in Dresden, Germany, and entered the United States Naval Academy in 1895. As a midshipman, he served on the flagship New York during the Battle of Santiago in the Spanish-American War. After 2 years as a naval cadet, he was commissioned Ensign 28 January 1901 to begin a series of promotions and distinctions that would underscore his service to the Navy.
In July 1916, after serving in battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and on staffs afloat, he took command of Division 8, Destroyer Force, the first group of American destroyers sent abroad during World War I. He received the Distinguished Service Medal for World War I service. After the war he continued to serve the Navy at home and abroad. He served at the Naval War College, from 1923 to 1926. He also saw duty in the Bureau of Navigation, as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, and as Commandant, 5th Naval District, in addition to commanding a battleship division and cruiser scouting force. Vice Admiral Taussig retired in 1941 but was recalled to active duty in 1943 to serve in the office of the Secretary of the Navy until 1 June 1947, only a few months before his death.
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