James Vincent Forrestal

James Vincent Forrestal (1892-1949), American banker and government official, born in Beacon, New York, and educated at Dartmouth College and Princeton University. In 1916 he joined the New York City investment firm of Dillon, Reed, and Company. He became president of the firm in 1938. Two years later Forrestal was appointed undersecretary of the navy and served in that post until 1944, when he became secretary of the navy. He was one of the chief planners of the unification of the three armed services in a single executive department of the federal government. In 1947, when unification was effected by congressional enactment, Forrestal became the first secretary of defense of the U.S. He resigned the post because of ill health early in 1949.