21 Facts About Stephen Luce

Stephen Bleecker Luce was an admiral in the United States Navy.

Stephen Luce co-founded and later served as president of the United States Naval Institute in Annapolis, Maryland.

Stephen Luce was instructed at the Naval School in Philadelphia until 1845, when the United States Naval Academy opened in Annapolis.

Stephen Luce graduated from the Academy in 1848 and was warranted as a passed midshipman to date from August 10,1847.

Stephen Luce was promoted to lieutenant on September 15,1855.

In 1854, Stephen Luce married Elizabeth Henley, a grand-niece of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, wife of George Washington.

Stephen Luce was assigned to the US Naval Academy, which was moved to Newport, Rhode Island, from January 1862 to October 1863.

Stephen Luce was promoted to captain in December 1872 and served as the captain of the yard at the Boston Navy Yard, until 1875.

Stephen Luce commanded the USS Hartford from November 1875 to August 1877.

From August to December 1877, Stephen Luce was the Navy's inspector of training ships, then from January 1878 to February 1881, he commanded the training ship USS Minnesota.

From July to September 1884, Stephen Luce commanded the North Atlantic Squadron with the USS Tennessee as his flagship.

From June 1886 to February 1889, Stephen Luce again commanded the North Atlantic Squadron with the USS Richmond this time as his flagship.

Stephen Luce helped start the United States Naval Institute in October 1873; he would serve as the Institute's president from 1887 to 1898.

In 1881, Stephen Luce was promoted to commodore, and commanded the US Navy Training Squadron in Newport from April 1881 to June 1884.

Stephen Luce's plan was to have bright and healthy young men, 14 to 17 years old, serve a three-year apprenticeship with the Training Squadron during which they received an academic education and hands-on seamanship training.

Stephen Luce returned to the War College in 1901 and served for nearly a further decade as a faculty member.

Stephen Luce retired in November 1910 at the age of 83.

Stephen Luce joined the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars in 1896 and became the founding commander of the Rhode Island Commandery of the MOFW in 1900.

Stephen Luce was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Naval Order of the United States.

An active member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Stephen Luce served as a vestryman of two Newport churches: All Saints Memorial Chapel and St John's Episcopal Church, where he served as a warden.

Stephen Luce died on July 28,1917 and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.