George Salisbury
Encyclopedia
George Robert Salisbury was a United States Navy
Commodore who served as the 15th Naval Governor of Guam. Though he originally served as an Engineering Duty Officer
, he eventually stopped being a Restricted Line Officer
, and retired from the Navy as a Commodore. As governor, he rolled back a number of educational reforms and encouraged a new ranch system. He also took drastic measures to control the leprosy
epidemic on the island, removing the infected to Philippines
. He was briefly called into service during World War I
before retiring.
. Salisbury was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
from Missouri
in 1874, graduating on June 10, 1879. He served as a Engineering Duty Officer
from 1881 to 1892, during this time, he served as a naval engineer
aboard the USS Chicago
in 1889. He participated in the Spanish–American War aboard a battleship
. On March 3, 1899, his ranked was changed to lieutenant
. From 1899 to 1902, he served aboard the USS Massachusetts
. He achieved the rank of lieutenant commander
in 1902.
He attempted to retire, but was called back to service in the Reserve Naval Fleet
during World War I
. He was placed in charge of overseeing minesweeper
production in Buffalo, New York
. He ultimately retired with the title of Commodore.
, and once again allowed residents who lived more than two hours from a public school to forgo attendance if they desired. He also changed the age of compulsory schooling to those between the ages of six and twelve. Salisbury soon found himself, like the governors before him, unable to control the spread of leprosy
through Guam
. Taking drastic measures, he began removing the infected from the island, quarantining them in the Philippines
. He encouraged the native Chamorro population to increasingly live on ranches, raise livestock, and farm.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Commodore who served as the 15th Naval Governor of Guam. Though he originally served as an Engineering Duty Officer
Engineering Duty Officer
An Engineering Duty Officer is a Restricted Line Officer in the United States Navy, involved with the design, acquisition, construction, repair, maintenance, conversion, overhaul, or disposal of ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and the systems on those platforms...
, he eventually stopped being a Restricted Line Officer
Restricted Line Officer
Restricted Line Officers in the United States Navy and Navy Reserve are line officers who are not eligible for Command at Sea. There are many different types and communities, including Engineering Duty Officers, Aerospace Engineering Duty Officers, Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officers, Naval...
, and retired from the Navy as a Commodore. As governor, he rolled back a number of educational reforms and encouraged a new ranch system. He also took drastic measures to control the leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
epidemic on the island, removing the infected to Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He was briefly called into service during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
before retiring.
Life and naval career
Salisbury married once to Adele Trowbridge, who he divorced on December 6, 1913 in an uncontested court decision with no alimonyAlimony
Alimony is a U.S. term denoting a legal obligation to provide financial support to one's spouse from the other spouse after marital separation or from the ex-spouse upon divorce...
. Salisbury was appointed 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...
from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in 1874, graduating on June 10, 1879. He served as a Engineering Duty Officer
Engineering Duty Officer
An Engineering Duty Officer is a Restricted Line Officer in the United States Navy, involved with the design, acquisition, construction, repair, maintenance, conversion, overhaul, or disposal of ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and the systems on those platforms...
from 1881 to 1892, during this time, he served as a naval engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
aboard the USS Chicago
USS Chicago (1885)
The first USS Chicago was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy, the largest of the original three authorized by Congress for the "New Navy"....
in 1889. He participated in the Spanish–American War aboard a battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. On March 3, 1899, his ranked was changed to lieutenant
Lieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
. From 1899 to 1902, he served aboard the USS Massachusetts
USS Massachusetts (BB-2)
USS Massachusetts was an and the second United States Navy ship comparable to foreign battleships of the time. Authorized in 1890 and commissioned six years later, she was a small battleship, though with heavy armor and ordnance. The ship class also pioneered the use of an intermediate battery...
. He achieved the rank of lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
in 1902.
He attempted to retire, but was called back to service in the Reserve Naval Fleet
United States Navy reserve fleets
The United States Navy maintains a number of its ships as part of a reserve fleet, often called the "Mothball Fleet". While the details of the activity have changed several times, the basics are constant: keep the ships afloat and sufficiently working as to be reactivated quickly in an...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was placed in charge of overseeing minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
production in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He ultimately retired with the title of Commodore.
Governorship
Salisbury was Governor of Guam from January 21, 1911 to January 30, 1912. He rolled back some education reforms of Governor Edward John DornEdward John Dorn
Edward J. Dorn was a captain in the United States Navy. He was born in Potosi, Wisconsin and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1874. In 1901, Dorn was briefly acting-Commandant of American Samoa while Commandant Benjamin Franklin Tilley was away on leave...
, and once again allowed residents who lived more than two hours from a public school to forgo attendance if they desired. He also changed the age of compulsory schooling to those between the ages of six and twelve. Salisbury soon found himself, like the governors before him, unable to control the spread of leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
through Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. Taking drastic measures, he began removing the infected from the island, quarantining them in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He encouraged the native Chamorro population to increasingly live on ranches, raise livestock, and farm.