It may have been because most American aircraft engines rotated right-hand, looking form the cockpit, which at low airspeed and high power, would induce a torque roll to the left ... away from the aircraft carrier "island"
As did the Merlin, the Griffon, which was designed/built at the request of the Royal Navy, rotated in the opposite direction, but that can be explained by the Society of British Aircraft Constructors in the late 1930's establishing guidelines including the direction of propeller rotation. Most British engines seemed to have the Griffon direction of rotation, wonder why the Merlin was an odd man out.
As to why the island is where it is seems to fall into the Royal Navy's lap. The first purpose designed carrier ever was HMS Hermes, initially it was designed to have an island on both sides with a full length deck running between them. The result of flight trials on the Eagle and Argus prompted a design change for the island to be placed to starboard, the reason given in texts being pilots preferred to turn to port if overshooting, the standard left hand circuit and having a clear view of the deck on downwind would be my assumption as well. The aircraft embarked on the Hermes, Fairey Flycatcher fighters and Fairey IIID, had the same rotation as the Griffon, so torque effects don't seem to have been a consideration.
https://www.naval-encyclopedia.com/UK/ww1/hms-hermes