1. Major General Charles Heywood was the ninth Commandant of the Marine Corps.
15 Facts About Charles Heywood
1. 2.
Charles Heywood served as an officer for over 45 years and was the first Marine to reach the rank of major general.
3.
Charles Heywood was born on October 3,1839, in Waterville, Maine, son of Charles Heywood, a lieutenant in the US Navy, who had distinguished himself in the defense of San Jose del Cabo during the Mexican American War.
4.
Charles Heywood was appointed second lieutenant in the Marine Corps from New York, on April 5,1858.
5.
In May 1861,2nd Lt Charles Heywood was promoted to first lieutenant, and as such landed with the Marines at Hatteras Inlet, where he was present at the capture of both Fort Clark and Fort Hatteras.
6.
Charles Heywood was most favorably mentioned for his gallant conduct and received the brevet rank of major for his services during the engagement.
7.
Charles Heywood was ordered to that vessel as Fleet Marine Officer of the West Gulf Squadron.
8.
Major Charles Heywood served on shore at Pensacola and was on board Hartford in the Battle of Mobile Bay, where he received the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel for gallant and meritorious services.
9.
Charles Heywood was honorably mentioned by General Hancock, United States Army, who was in general command, and received thanks from the Navy Department for his services.
10.
Commandant Charles Heywood was said to have refused initial deliveries of small allotments of Lee rifles to Marine battalions until he was given assurances that an appropriation would be made to the Corps for at least 3,000 Lee rifles, improved target ranges, and enough ammunition to continue existing marksmanship training programs.
11.
Charles Heywood was the first commandant to establish a regular system of examinations for officers for promotion and set up the system of officers' schools, which has continued with slight interruption since then.
12.
Charles Heywood adopted the current practice of issuing good conduct medals for the betterment of the discipline in the Marine Corps.
13.
Charles Heywood was the first Marine to hold the rank of major general.
14.
Major General Charles Heywood closed a most distinguished career of over forty-five years as a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps, when on October 3,1903, in accordance with law, having attained the age of 64 years, he was placed on the retired list.
15.
Eleven years after his retirement, on February 26,1915, Charles Heywood died from chronic heart disease in Washington, DC at the age seventy five.