Richmond (Pearson) Hobson

US naval officer, born in Greensboro, Alabama, USA. He became a naval hero during the Spanish-American War. He served as a US representative (Democrat, Alabama, 1907–15) and wrote several books, including America Must Be Mistress of the Seas (1902).

Richmond Pearson Hobson (17 August 1870 - 16 March 1937) was a United States Navy admiral who served from 1905-1915 as a Congressman from Alabama.

He was born in Greensboro, Alabama, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1889. Hobson then served at various Navy Yards and facilities, including a tour of duty as instructor at the Naval Academy.

In the early days of Spanish-American War, he was with Sampson in New York, and arrived off Santiago 1 June 1898. In order to bottle up Cervera's squadron Hobson took temporary command of collier Merrimac, which he would attempt to sink as an obstruction in the channel.

Hobson was advanced 10 numbers in grade after the war and later, in 1933, awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic attempt to block the channel.

One of his close friends was American genius and inventor Nikola Tesla.

Hobson was the author of a book about the events surrounding the sinking of collier Merrimac in which he participated as the leader of a volunteer squad.

Resigning in 1903, Hobson remained a staunch supporter of the Navy and during his subsequent career as a Congressman from Alabama, 1905-1915, was a firm advocate of naval expansion. Rear Admiral Hobson died 16 March 1937 in New York City.

The destroyer USS Hobson (DD-464) was named in his honor.