Richmond Hobson sinks the Merrimac
At the end of the 19th century, during America’s short-lived war with Spain, a young Alabama naval officer distinguished himself in Cuban waters.
Richmond Pearson Hobson was born in Hale County in 1870. At just 15, he was the youngest midshipman in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated first among them in 1889. Hobson later continued his education while stationed in France and returned to the U.S. to supervise construction of new vessels.
At the start of the Spanish-American War, Hobson was assigned to the USS New York, under the command of Admiral William Sampson. The two men devised a plan to render useless a squadron of Spanish ships anchored in Cuba’s Santiago Harbor. The plan centered on scuttling the USS Merrimac, a 330-foot-long cargo ship, in the narrowest part of the harbor’s entrance. Hobson would use the Merrimac to “cork the bottle.”
On June 3, 1898, Hobson and a crew of seven men piloted the Merrimac into the harbor. After Spanish gunfire disabled the ship’s steering, Hobson courageously attempted to complete the mission by detonating his complement of torpedoes. The Merrimac sank, but had floated too far from the harbor’s entry to achieve their goal. Briefly captured, Hobson and his crew were freed when the Spanish fleet was defeated the following month. The men were greeted as heroes for their efforts and awarded the Medal of Honor in 1933.
A bout of typhoid fever ended Hobson’s naval career in 1903. He then entered politics, representing Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District for four terms. Thereafter, he spearheaded an international campaign on the prohibition of alcohol and narcotics. He died at his New York City home in 1937 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
— Scotty Kirkland
Historical Commission Seeks Nominations for Places in Peril
Each year, the Places in Peril program calls public attention to a select number of Alabama’s threatened historic and archaeological sites. Places in Peril is a listing of some of the state’s most endangered historic properties and focuses on bringing state and regional attention to these places to create meaningful solutions to the threat faced by historic buildings across Alabama, generating support for their preservation.
The program is administered by the Alabama Historical Commission, which partners with Alabama Heritage magazine to publish each year’s listing.
If there is an irreplaceable historic building or site in your area that is threatened by demolition or neglect, this is your opportunity to help save it. Each submission will be evaluated for its significance and level of threat.
The 2026 nomination period is open and continues through Oct. 31, 2026. For more information or to make a nomination, visit ahc.alabama.gov and click on “Protect and Preserve,” then scroll down to “Places in Peril.” This page also has a listing of previous year’s historic properties, as well as an interactive map.
