Frank Hamilton Newcomb (10 November 1846 – 20 February 1934) was a United States Revenue Cutter Service commodore, best known for his actions at the Battle of Cárdenas during the Spanish–American War.

[1] In 1863 at the age of 17, Newcomb received a U.S. Navy officer's appointment as acting master's mate aboard the mortar schooner USS Para.

In early 1865, Newcomb was transferred to USS Arethusa, which was a coaling vessel home-ported at Port Royal, South Carolina.

[1] Desiring to return to a sea career, Newcomb applied for and received a commission in the United States Revenue Cutter Service.

[2][Note 2] In 1879, Newcomb was appointed as an assistant inspector for the United States Life-Saving Service by USLSS superintendent Sumner I. Kimball.

Newcomb appointed a locally recognized surfman, Richard Etheridge as the Pea Island Life-Saving Station head keeper.

[9] Newcomb received orders assigning Hudson to the Navy and to report to Norfolk, Virginia, for outfitting because of the growing tensions with Spain over the sinking of the USS Maine on 15 February 1898.

[13][Note 5] On 23 April, Hudson departed Norfolk with orders to report to the staging area for Cuban operations at Key West, Florida.

[16] Executive Mansion June 27, 1898 To The Congress of the United States: On the 11th of May, 1898, there occurred a conflict in the Bay of Cardenas, Cuba, in which the naval torpedo boat Winslow was disabled, her commander wounded, and one of her officers and a part of her crew killed by the enemy's fire.

WILLIAM McKINLEY[17] A joint resolution by Congress carried out the president's wishes and medals were struck for Newcomb, his officers and men.

[16][Note 7] He later served as the Supervisor of Anchorages for New York Harbor, and Superintendent of Construction of Life-Saving Stations for the Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes.