George C. Thorpe
Encyclopedia
George Cyrus Thorpe was an American
officer serving in the United States Marine Corps
during the Spanish-American War
who was one of 23 Marine Corps officers approved to receive the Marine Corps Brevet Medal
for bravery. He was also an author and lawyer after he retired from the Marine Corps.
and in 1894 received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy
in Annapolis, Maryland
.
He resigned in November 1896 but when the Spanish-American War
started he applied for a commission in the Marine Corps. His application was accepted and he was appointed a Second Lieutenant
.
While serving in the Marine Corps he attended New York University and in 1910 received a Bachelor of Science
. In 1912 he was involved in Cuba
's Negro Rebellion
, which resulted in an intervention by the United States military. Thorpe also graduated from the Naval War College in 1915, received a Masters degree from Brown University in 1916, and completed the General Staff College in 1921.
He was a Major
when he was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. in 1917.
In 1923 he was placed on the retired list due to being found not physically qualified for further service and was placed on the retired list as Colonel after having several toes from both feet amputated.
After retiring from the Marine Corps he became a lawyer and author, writing several books on military and legal subjects.
George Thorpe died July 28, 1936 at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland
and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
. His grave can be found in section 6, site 9287.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
officer serving in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
who was one of 23 Marine Corps officers approved to receive the Marine Corps Brevet Medal
Marine Corps Brevet Medal
The Marine Corps Brevet Medal, also known as the Brevet Medal, was a military decoration of the United States Marine Corps; it was created in 1921 as a result of Marine Corps Order Number 26. The decoration was a one-time issuance and retroactively recognized living Marine Corps officers who had...
for bravery. He was also an author and lawyer after he retired from the Marine Corps.
Biography
Thorpe was born January 7, 1875 in Northfield, MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and in 1894 received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
.
He resigned in November 1896 but when the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
started he applied for a commission in the Marine Corps. His application was accepted and he was appointed a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
.
While serving in the Marine Corps he attended New York University and in 1910 received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
. In 1912 he was involved in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
's Negro Rebellion
Negro Rebellion
The Negro Rebellion, also known as the Little Race War, the War of 1912, or The Twelve, was an armed conflict in Cuba, taking place mainly in the eastern region of the island in 1912. The conflict involved the widespread massacre of Afro-Cubans, by the Cuban Army, and an intervention by the United...
, which resulted in an intervention by the United States military. Thorpe also graduated from the Naval War College in 1915, received a Masters degree from Brown University in 1916, and completed the General Staff College in 1921.
He was a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
when he was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. in 1917.
In 1923 he was placed on the retired list due to being found not physically qualified for further service and was placed on the retired list as Colonel after having several toes from both feet amputated.
After retiring from the Marine Corps he became a lawyer and author, writing several books on military and legal subjects.
George Thorpe died July 28, 1936 at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. His grave can be found in section 6, site 9287.
Presidential citation
Citation- The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Marine Corps Brevet Medal to George Cyrus Thorpe, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Novaleta, Philippine Islands. On 28 March 1901, appointed Captain, by brevet, from 8 October 1899.
Secretary of the Navy citation
Citation- The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in transmitting to First Lieutenant George Cyrus Thorpe, United States Marine Corps, the Brevet Medal which is awarded in accordance with Marine Corps Order No. 26 (1921), for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy while serving with the Second Battalion of Marines, at Novaleta, Philippine Islands, on 8 October 1899. On 28 March 1901, First Lieutenant Thorpe is appointed Captain, by brevet, to rank from 8 October 1899.