Show WILLIAM WHITNEY DEAD former secretary of navy succumbs to appendicitis williams colllns collins whitney former secretary of the navy died at his home in new york city tuesday at the age of 64 death being caused by blood poisoning following an operation for william collins whitney was born bom in conway mass july 5 1841 and was a descendant ot of john whitney one of the english puritan leaders who settled at watertown mass in 1625 mr whitney was made secretary of the navy by president cleveland in issa lie ile was vms the leader of the cleveland forces in 1892 mr whitney was of as a presidential ident ial possibility |