Otto Dowling

Who was Otto Dowling?

Otto Carl Dowling was a United States Navy Captain, and the 25th Governor of American Samoa from April 17, 1934 to January 15, 1936. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1903. Dowling served in World War I, before retiring. He was re-commissioned in World War II, serving as the commander of a naval ammunition depot on Iona Island in New York. He commanded the Lake Denmark Powder Depot, and was in charge when lightning struck the location, causing a large explosion of millions of dollars' worth of ammunition. A board of inquiry recommended him for the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery in the situation.

As Governor, he discriminated against the Samoan people, believing they had little ability to plan or administer, and were generally lazy. He abandoned a project on the island to train people in agricultural and saw mill skills. He shut down some local occupational training facilities, and outlawed the sale of alcohol to men under eighteen, and all women. He died on April 14, 1946 in Trumbull, Connecticut after he suffered a heart attack while driving.