He was the son of John Russell Bartlett, an ethnologist and Secretary of State of Rhode Island.

Other accomplishments while commanding the Blake included working with biologist Alexander Emanuel Agassiz and studying the Gulf Stream.

During the Spanish–American War, Bartlett was recalled to active duty on 25 April 1898 and served until October of that year.

On July 9 he was also placed in command of the Auxiliary Naval Force which consisted of 41 vessels, 200 officers and 3,000 men.

The Auxiliary Naval Force was responsible for coastal defense and was organized into nine districts which covered the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts of the United States.

With the rapid conclusion of hostilities against Spain, the Auxiliary Naval Force was disbanded almost as quickly as it was formed with most of its vessels being deactivated by the end of August.

[3] In February 1903, he was promoted by President Theodore Roosevelt to the rank of rear admiral on the retired list.