Edward William Hanson (February 12, 1889 – October 18, 1959) was a United States Navy Vice admiral and the governor of American Samoa from June 26, 1938, to July 30, 1940.

[1] As Governor of American Samoa, Hanson believed that the native Samoans had a good way of life, and did little to interfere with established practices on the islands.

With the entry of the United States into World War I, LTJG Hanson was appointed as commanding officer of USS Dale, a Bainbridge-class destroyer, which patrolled Manila Bay in the summer of 1917.

He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain and appointed the commanding officer of the Naval Station Tutuila, also in American Samoa.

[10] Two months later (during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor), Hanson commanded USS Indianapolis during a training mission conducting a mock bombardment at Johnston Atoll.

In August 1945, Hanson was transferred to Hawaii, where he succeeded Rear Admiral William R. Furlong as a Commander of Pearl Harbor Navy Yard.

[12][13] Hanson retired from the Navy with the rank of vice admiral on February 1, 1951, and settled in La Jolla, California near San Diego.