Princess Xenia Andreevna Romanoff (niece) William Alexander Ancrum (July 8, 1881 – March 11, 1963) was a captain in the United States Navy who fought during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in five separate wars during his career.

[3] Of French Huguenot and Scottish descent, Ancrum came from a Charleston family that settled in Camden to better cultivate the rich swamps of the Wateree and avoid malaria.

Following his graduation from the Naval Academy in February 1903, he embarked on his career with an initial assignment to USS Wisconsin, stationed at the Bremerton, Washington, Navy Yard, bound for Chefoo, China.

After completing over two years of service on USS Oregon, he transitioned to the destroyer Chauncey, tasked with patrolling the Western Philippines during the Russo-Japanese War and participating in operations against the Moros.

His subsequent assignments led him to the Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts, where he briefly served aboard the newly commissioned USS Flusser on October 28, 1909.

On December 29, 1909, he assumed the role of an assistant to the Engineer Officer at the Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia, and also served as a member of the Court of Inquiry during that tour of duty.

During this period, his division escorted General Funston's Army to Vera Cruz, Mexico, and later transported American refugees from Tampico to Galveston.

On August 1, 1917, he reached London, England, on orders to the staff of Admiral Sims, and in July 1918, he conducted special additional duty at Southampton, investigating conditions aboard several small steamers.

[5] While on this Near East assignment, Captain Ancrum was ordered back to Constantinople from the Adriatic command to assist in handling the 130,000 White Russians who retreated from the Crimea (in about 120 vessels of all types) when the Bolsheviks suddenly took it over, via the ice, after an unexpected freeze.

For outstanding service in the Adriatic - Venice, Pola, and Split - he was awarded the Italian decoration Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus by the Government of Italy.

[5] After his arrival in San Francisco in April 1921, Captain Ancrum was ordered to assume command of USS Tallahassee at Charleston, South Carolina.

From December 1923 to May 1925, he served as Executive Officer of USS Utah, which took a diplomatic mission around South America, primarily to attend the Lima, Peru, celebration in commemoration of the Battle of Ayacucho.

He was detached on February 15, 1936, and on March 30 reported to Headquarters, Fifth Naval District, Norfolk, Virginia, where he served for two years as Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commandant.

The commendation states: "Displaying exceptional leadership and administrative ability, Captain Ancrum supervised the control of all merchant ships, the Armed Guard and communication liaison groups aboard these vessels, using the ports within the Sixth Naval District.