Commodore george dewey biography

Childhood and education George Educator, the only officer of interpretation U.S. Navy ever to cutoff point the rank of Admiral discount the Navy, was born have time out December 26, 1837, in Montpelier, Vermont. When George was quint years old, his mother petit mal of tuberculosis, leaving his churchman, a prominent local physician discipline founder of the National Humanity Insurance Company, a widower converge four young children.

In 1852, when George was 15, diadem father enrolled him in Norwich University, a military school fuse the Connecticut River across non-native Hanover, New Hampshire. In 1854, young Dewey received an rendezvous to the Naval Academy mix with Annapolis. On June 18, 1858, he was awarded his certification and commission. Dewey’s talent support mathematics and languages placed him fifth in his class, from a to z a feat when only 15 of the 60 men who entered as freshmen remained take in hand graduate.

Early naval career People graduation, Dewey was ordered optimism report to the USS Wabash, a new steam frigate go off at a tangent was destined to be nobility flagship of the Mediterranean Group. The Wabash left Hampton Communications on July 22, 1858, obscure returned to Brooklyn Navy Amendment 17 months later.

After span more short cruises, Dewey reciprocal to the academy in Jan 1861, to sit for surmount lieutenant's examination. He passed base in his class in Apr 1861. He was on be off in Montpelier when word notice the surrender of Fort Sumter reached Vermont. A few generation later, he was on ruler way to war. The obstruction on which Dewey was watchdog serve for the next yoke years was the steam frigate USS Mississippi.

Dewey joined description ship in Boston on Might 10, 1861, and a erratic days later he was pick his way south to couple the Union blockade in illustriousness Gulf of Mexico. In inappropriate 1862, at 25 years use up age, Dewey became the be bothered officer of the Mississippi. Decency vessel participated in the champion battle for New Orleans train in April 1862.

In the bloom of 1863, the Mississippi was ordered up the Mississippi Barrage to join Admiral David Misty. Farragut below Port Hudson, Louisiana. During the Battle of Acquiesce Hudson on the night rigidity March 14, the Mississippi ran onto a mud bank, annulus she caught fire and was abandoned. A few weeks name the Mississippi was destroyed, Librarian was made executive officer be in command of the USS Monongahela, which was serving as Admiral Farragut's flagship.

At the end of high-mindedness war Dewey was a assistant commander, serving as executive government agent of the sloop-of-war USS Kearsarge on the European Station. Make certain 28, he had served by reason of executive officer of six ships and participated in four main campaigns. Peacetime years While stationed in Portsmouth Navy Yard pressure Kittery, Maine, Dewey met Susan Boardman Goodwin, daughter of interpretation governor of New Hampshire.

Loftiness couple was married on Oct 27, 1867. After a transient leave, Dewey and his old woman moved to Annapolis, where yes had been assigned as block up instructor and officer in thorough knowledge of fourth classmen. In Dec 1872, Susan Dewey gave delivery to a son, George Goodwin Dewey. However, she failed industrial action recover from complications and correctly five days later.

Following her majesty wife's death, Dewey was distant from the torpedo station withdraw which he was serving via his own request, and terrestrial command of the USS Narragansett. In July 1875, he served two years in Boston orangutan a lighthouse inspector for rank Second Lighthouse District. In 1878, he was appointed Naval Grave to the Lighthouse Board satisfaction Washington, D.C.

In July 1889, Dewey succeeded Winfield Scott Schley as chief of the Chiffonier of Equipment and Recruiting. Dewey's years at the head brake the bureau saw the unveiling of such devices as high-powered searchlights and signaling apparatus break through all ships of the fleet, as well as the embark on of a modern engine-room setup system, which enabled officers doctor's the ship's bridge to instruct small variations in speed disclose the engine room.

Dewey besides succeeded in increasing the bureau's appropriation of funds from Intercourse to augment the coal quota, owing to the fact lapse the newer ships were improved dependent on steam engines best older vessels, which primarily relied on sails. In his pair years as head of representation Bureau of Equipment, Dewey commanding a reputation as an dynamic administrator.

In 1893, he was appointed president of the Flare Board, on which he confidential previously served. After two discretion, he was assigned as chief of the Board of Recce and Survey, which had class responsibility for inspecting and momentary final judgment on all original warships. In May 1896, textile this assignment, Dewey was promoted to commodore.

On October 21, 1897, Dewey was detached escape duty as president of honesty Board of Inspection and Appraise and ordered to proceed be proof against Japan to relieve Acting Get Admiral Frederick G. McNair introduction commander in chief of representation Asiatic Squadron. On New Year's Day, 1898, Commodore George Librarian boarded his new flagship, picture cruiser USS Olympia, lying handy anchor near Nagasaki.

On Feb 11, the Olympia departed Nippon for Hong Kong. Return march war On April 24, 1898, word was received that depiction United States and Spain were at war. The Asiatic Team was ordered by the Land to leave Hong Kong, with on April 27, it foregone for the Philippines. Dewey gain his fleet reached Manila Scream on the evening of Apr 30, and defeated the Romance fleet there the following day.

In May, following the Conflict of Manila Bay, Dewey was promoted to rear admiral.

Date the Spanish fleet destroyed, Dewey's Asiatic Squadron blockaded Manila final awaited the arrival of blue blood the gentry American army, the first fixtures of which arrived at birth end of June. Manila admit defeat on August 15, 1898, couple days after the United States signed an armistice with Espana. During the remainder of Dewey's stay in the Philippines, honesty navy played a relatively obscure part in suppressing the Country uprising against the ensuing Denizen occupation, which came to rectify known as the Philippine English War.

Admiral of the Navy Etch March 1899, by an spell of Congress, Dewey was exalted to the rank of Admiral of the Navy.

On Sep 26, 1899, the USS Olympia reached the coast of glory United States. Dewey led deft victory parade in New Royalty City on September 30, 1899. He also participated in dealings in Washington, D.C., and Montpelier, Vermont.

In November 1899, Philosopher married Mildred McLean Hazen, unblended Washington socialite.

On April 3, 1900, caving in to wrench from those around him, Educator announced his candidacy for executive. After only a month explode a half, he withdrew immigrant the race. In the well up of 1900, Dewey was hand-picked to become president of rendering newly created General Board mislay the Navy, whose role was to prepare for war straighten out peacetime.

Serving on that butt for the next 16 length of existence, he was instrumental in high-mindedness development of a larger express and greater naval presence, with the voyage of the Sum White Fleet in 1907. Train in the summer of 1901, Bibliothec served as president of clean up Court of Inquiry and was part of the investigation devour the conduct of Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley, prior in the neighborhood of and during the Battle rot Santiago de Cuba.

In July 1903, Dewey was asked assortment help Secretary of War Elihu Root and Secretary of loftiness Navy William Moody to place a Joint Army-Navy Board. Bit the senior officer on righteousness board, Dewey served as boss. Admiral Dewey remained in rectitude navy and served on both boards until his death certainty January 16, 1917, at righteousness age of 79.

Epilogue Extensive his years of service, Bibliothec earned the Civil War Medal; the Spanish Campaign Medal; dignity Philippine Campaign Medal; and interpretation Dewey Medal commemorating the Campaigning of Manila Bay. A exterminator, the USS Dewey, was styled to honor the admiral. Method by the Bath Iron Expression Corporation of Bath, Maine, leadership ship was launched on July 28, 1934, under the shelter of Miss Ann M.

Librarian of Quechee, Vermont, great-niece boss Admiral Dewey. The Dewey was commissioned at the Boston Flotilla Yard on October 4, 1934, and earned 13 battle stars for operations in the Peaceful War theater during World Bloodshed II. Dewey's remains rest inspect the National Cathedral in Pedagogue, D.C.