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George Dewey

George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy United States Navy

The United States Navy is the branch of the United States armed forces [i] responsible for conducting naval [i] ... 

, best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War took place in 1898 and resulted in the United States [i] gaining control over t ... 

. He is also the only person in the history of the United States to attain the rank of Admiral of the Navy, the senior-most rank in the United States Navy.

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Timeline

1837   Born

1917   Died



Encyclopedia

George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy United States Navy

The United States Navy is the branch of the United States armed forces [i] responsible for conducting naval [i] ... 

, best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War took place in 1898 and resulted in the United States [i] gaining control over t ... 

. He is also the only person in the history of the United States to attain the rank of Admiral of the Navy, the senior-most rank in the United States Navy.

Biography

Dewey was born in Montpelier, Vermont Montpelier, Vermont

Montpelier is the capital of the U.S. state [i] of Vermont [i] and the county seat [i] of Washington County [i] ... 

, attended Norwich University Norwich University

Norwich University is a private college [i] located in Northfield [i], Vermont [i]. ... 

 for two years , and graduated from the Naval Academy United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy [i]... 

 in 1858. He served as a lieutenant under Admiral David Farragut David Farragut

David Glasgow Farragut was the senior officer of the U.S. Navy [i] during the American Civil War [i]. ... 

 in the American Civil War American Civil War

The American Civil War was a sectional conflict in the United States of America [i] between the federal ... 

, seeing action in Louisiana Louisiana

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... 

 and along the Mississippi River Mississippi River

The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe [i] word misi-ziibi meaning 'grea ... 

. He attained the rank of lieutenant commander Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer [i] rank [i] in many navies [i] superi ... 

 in 1865.

Dewey remained in the Navy after the war and in 1896 was made a Commodore. He was appointed to the command of the United States Asiatic Squadron a few weeks before the start of the war with Spain.

On April 27, 1898, he sailed out from China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 with orders to attack the Spanish Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i].... 

 at Manila Bay Manila Bay

*Battle of Manila Bay [i]

External link
... 

. He arrived at the mouth of the bay late the night of April 30, and the following morning he gave the order to attack at first light, by saying the now famous words "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley Charles Vernon Gridley

Charles Vernon Gridley was an officer in the United States Navy [i] during the Civil War [i] ... 

". Within 6 hours, on May 1, he had sunk or captured the entire Spanish Pacific fleet under Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón and silenced the shore batteries at Manila Manila

The City of Manila, or simply Manila, is the capital [i] of the Philippines [i]. ... 

, without the loss of a single life on the American side.

News of the victory in the Battle of Manila Bay made Dewey a great hero in the United States, and Dewey was promoted to Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

Rear Admiral is a naval [i] commissioned officer [i] rank that originated from the days of Naval Sailing ... 

. Dewey's swift easy victory no doubt did much to encourage the William McKinley William McKinley

William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States [i].... 

 administration in its decision to place the Philippines Philippines

The Philippines , officially the Republic of the Philippines , is an island nation [i] located in ... 

 under American control.



Dewey aided General Wesley Merritt Wesley Merritt

Wesley Merritt was a general in the U.S. Army [i] during the American Civil War [i] and the Spanish-American War [i] ... 

 in taking formal possession of Manila on August 18, 1898. In the early stages of the war the Americans were greatly aided by the Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo Emilio Aguinaldo

Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino [i] general, politician, and independence leader.... 

 who had been attacking the Spanish by land as Dewey was attacking them by sea. Dewey and Aguinaldo at first enjoyed a cordial relationship, and Dewey wrote that the Filipinos were "intelligent" and well "capable of self-government"; however the McKinley administration soon decided otherwise, and by the start of 1899, Dewey had to threaten to shell Aguinaldo's forces to allow American troops to land in Manila .

Dewey returned to America to a hero's welcome, and by act of Congress United States Congress

The United States Congress is the legislature [i] of the United States federal government [i]. ... 

 was made Admiral of the Navy in 1899. A special military decoration, the Dewey Medal Dewey Medal

The Dewey Medal was a military decoration [i] of th ... 

, was also named in his honor.

After Dewey's return from the Spanish-American War, many suggested he run for President of the United States President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

 on the Democratic ticket. However, newspapers started attacking him as naive after he was quoted saying the job of President would be easy since the chief executive was merely following orders in executing the laws enacted by Congress. He further angered Protestants by marrying a Catholic widow in 1899 and giving her the house that the nation had given him following the war.

Dewey withdrew from the race in mid-May and endorsed William McKinley.

Dewey officially remained an active officer of the Navy until his death, as a special honor after he passed retirement age. He published his autobiography in 1913. Admiral George Dewey died in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the capital [i] city [i] of the United States of America [i]. ... 

.

Dates of Rank


  • Midshipman Midshipman

    A midshipman is a subordinate officer [i], or alternatively a commissioned officer [i] of the lowest ran ... 

    : September 23, 1854
  • Lieutenant Lieutenant

    Lieutenant is a military [i], paramilitary [i], fire service [i] or police [i] officer [i] ... 

    : April 19, 1861
  • Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander

    Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer [i] rank [i] in many navies [i] superi ... 

    : March 3, 1865
  • Commander Commander

    Commander is a military rank [i] used in many navies [i] but not generally in armies [i] or air force [i] ... 

    : April 13, 1872
  • Captain: September 27, 1884
  • Commodore: February 28, 1896
  • Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Rear Admiral is a naval [i] commissioned officer [i] rank that originated from the days of Naval Sailing ... 

    : May 11, 1898
  • Admiral of the Navy: March 2, 1899

Honors

In 1898, the Borough of Hellertown, Pennsylvania formed its fire department naming it Dewey Fire Company No. 1 in honor of George Dewey.

Three ships of the United States Navy United States Navy

The United States Navy is the branch of the United States armed forces [i] responsible for conducting naval [i] ... 

 have borne the name USS Dewey, including an Arleigh Burke-class Arleigh Burke class destroyer

The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyer [i]s, one of the destroyer classes of the United States Navy [i] ... 

 destroyer, USS Dewey  that began construction in 2005.

Thomasville, Georgia, contains the Dewey City "subdivision," an area settled in the late 1880's by former slaves.

External links

  • - includes links to some of Dewey's letters
  • on Naval Historical Center Naval Historical Center

    The Naval Historical Center is the official history [i] program of the United States Navy [i]. ... 

     website