George Dewey was Admiral of the Navy, the only person in United States history to have attained that rank.
51 Facts About George Dewey
2.
George Dewey participated in the capture of New Orleans and the Siege of Port Hudson, helping the Union take control of the Mississippi River.
3.
George Dewey served on the United States Lighthouse Board and the Board of Inspection and Survey.
4.
George Dewey was promoted to commodore in 1896 and assigned to the Asiatic Squadron the following year.
5.
Immediately after the beginning of the war, George Dewey led an attack on Manila Bay, sinking the entire Spanish Pacific fleet while suffering only minor casualties.
6.
George Dewey explored a run for the 1900 Democratic presidential nomination, but he withdrew from the race and endorsed President William McKinley.
7.
George Dewey served on the General Board of the United States Navy, an important policy-making body, from 1900 until his death in 1917.
8.
George Dewey was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on December 26,1837, directly opposite the Vermont State House, to Julius Yemans George Dewey and his first wife, Mary Perrin.
9.
George Dewey was among the founders of the National Life Insurance Company in 1848, a member of the Episcopal Church, and was among the founders of the Christ Episcopal Church in Montpelier.
10.
George Dewey found a military role model when he read a biography of Hannibal.
11.
George Dewey entered the United States Naval Academy in 1854 at the age of 16.
12.
George Dewey stood fifth on the class roll at graduation.
13.
George Dewey graduated from the Academy on 18 June 1858.
14.
George Dewey cruised in the Mediterranean, and the cadet officers visited the cities of the Old World accessible to them, often taking trips inland.
15.
George Dewey steered Mississippi through shallow water where he expected to run aground any moment.
16.
Manassas tried to ram Mississippi, but George Dewey safely maneuvered Mississippi to evade.
17.
George Dewey was set on fire by a boat from Mississippi, and then shelled.
18.
George Dewey was present, and was so conspicuous for gallantry that he was recommended for promotion on the strength of it.
19.
Colorado was engaged, and George Dewey played a key role in her success.
20.
George Dewey tried to take Dewey with him as his fleet captain when he went to supersede Farragut at Mobile Bay.
21.
Lieutenant Commander George Dewey was in charge of the vessels at the Naval Academy in Annapolis from 6 November 1867 through 1 August 1870.
22.
George Dewey was then briefly assigned to the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island.
23.
In 1873 George Dewey was given command of Narragansett and spent nearly four years on her, engaged in the Pacific Coast Survey.
24.
George Dewey was a member of the Metropolitan Club, the leading social club of Washington.
25.
In 1896, George Dewey applied for a sea posting as Commander of the Asiatic Squadron.
26.
George Dewey purchased the merchant colliers Nanshan and Zafiro, retaining their crews.
27.
George Dewey was promoted to rear admiral in May 1898, and full admiral the following year.
28.
New York City's September 1899 welcome-home celebration for George Dewey was a two-day parade.
29.
Such was his high regard by the public that "George Dewey" was the 19th most popular boys' name in 1898, jumping from 111th the year prior.
30.
Shortly after the Battle of Manila Bay, on May 31,1898, George Dewey wrote to the Secretary of the Navy asking that 50 Chinese sailors who had served with the Asiatic Squadron at Manila Bay be allowed to enter the United States.
31.
George Dewey had enlisted the Chinese sailors against the wishes of the Navy Department and, despite his very public entreatment that they be granted US citizenship, Congress refused to even take up the issue.
32.
On October 3,1899, George Dewey was presented a special sword by President McKinley in a ceremony at the Capitol building.
33.
Many suggested George Dewey run for President on the Democratic ticket in 1900.
34.
George Dewey withdrew from the race in mid-May 1900 and endorsed William McKinley.
35.
George Dewey remained in active naval service on the board until his death, and played a major role in championing the introduction of new technologies into the expanding US Navy with his support of the development of naval aviation and the submarine.
36.
In 1866, George Dewey was assigned to duty in the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, and there met the woman who became his first wife: Susan "Susie" Boardman Goodwin, daughter of New Hampshire's war governor, Ichabod Goodwin, a Republican who fitted out troops for the war at his own expense.
37.
On November 9,1899, after his triumphal return from the Far East, George Dewey was married for the second time to Mildred McLean Hazen, widow of General William Babcock Hazen, in the rectory of St Paul's Catholic Church in Washington, DC Since Hazen was a Roman Catholic and George Dewey was not, they were not permitted to have their wedding inside a Catholic church.
38.
In later life George Dewey wore stylish clothes and a handlebar mustache, which was his trademark.
39.
George Dewey's inherited wealth allowed him to live in comfort.
40.
George Dewey often went horseback riding with President Theodore Roosevelt in Washington's Rock Creek Park, and he was a fellow member of Washington's prestigious Metropolitan Club.
41.
George Dewey's office was in the State, War and Navy Building adjacent to the White House.
42.
Admiral George Dewey belonged to numerous military, patriotic and hereditary societies.
43.
In 1901, Admiral George Dewey was elected as an honorary member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati.
44.
In 1882, George Dewey was elected as a First Class Companion of the District of Columbia Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and was assigned insignia number 2397.
45.
George Dewey was a key leader in the Naval Order of the United States.
46.
George Dewey was an early member of the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America, serving until his resignation from that office in late 1910.
47.
George Dewey was therefore made a lieutenant once he "signed on" with David Farragut.
48.
George Dewey never held the ranks of ensign or lieutenant as those ranks were not created until 1862 and 1883, respectively.
49.
George Dewey is the only person ever to hold this rank.
50.
Admiral George Dewey served a total of 62 years on active duty in the US Navy.
51.
George Dewey wore the medal with the reverse side showing because his profile was on the obverse side.