Charles Oscar Paullin

Born in Jamestown, Ohio, in 1869, he grew up on a farm and studied first at Antioch College before graduating from Union Christian College in 1893. He taught mathematics for a year, worked at the U.S. Navy's Hydrographic Office in Washington, and continued his studies at both the Catholic University of America and Johns Hopkins University.

A later appreciation in Naval History describes him as a scholar who helped introduce well-documented naval history to a wide readership. It credits him with making important contributions to the administrative history of the United States Navy and notes that he was nationally recognized during his lifetime for his work.

That same account also points out an unusual detail: despite his importance, even institutions connected with his career had trouble locating a photograph of him decades after his death. Based on the pages I could verify, a clear portrait was not available.