Rainier , John Harvey , 1847-1915 , Admiral

J.H. Rainier was a great-nephew of Captain Peter Rainier (q.v.). He joined the Navy in 1862 and served on the Pacific Station from 1862 to 1866 in the TRIBUNE, TOPAZE, SUTLEJ, LEANDER and ALERT. As a sub-lieutenant and from 1869 as a lieutenant, he served in the VESTAL, RATTLESNAKE and PLOVER on the West African Station, 1867 to 1870, and from 1870 to 1871 was in the PLOVER in the West Indies. From 1872 to 1874 he served in the NORTHUMBERLAND, Channel Squadron. He was promoted to commander in 1880 and served in the KINGFISHER on the East Indies Station from 1884 to 1887. The ship was engaged in anti-slavery patrols off East Africa. He was promoted to captain in 1887 and commanded the TOURMALINE on the North America and West Indies Station from 1889 to 1891. He was in the IRIS, home waters, in 1893. Rainier commanded the RODNEY in the Mediterranean, 1894 to 1897, and was involved in the disturbances in Crete, helping to relieve the town of Kandanos in 1897. He was made a rear-admiral in 1901, a vice-admiral in 1905 and an admiral in 1908.