George Dewey

George Dewey (1837-1917), American naval officer, who became a hero during the Spanish-American War when the U.S. fleet he commanded destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila.

Dewey was born on December 26, 1837, in Montpelier, Vermont, and educated at the U.S. Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1858. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. In 1862, in command of the sloop Mississippi, Dewey took part in the successful operation led by Admiral David Farragut to capture New Orleans, Louisiana. Dewey was promoted to the rank of commander in 1872, captain in 1884, and commodore in 1896. In November 1897, he was given command of the Asiatic Squadron of the U.S. Navy.

When the United States declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898, Dewey's squadron was in the port of Hong Kong. The following day he was ordered to “capture or destroy the Spanish squadron,” then believed to be based in Manila. On May 1, he engaged the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay after giving his famous command to the captain of his flagship: “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.” Dewey forcefully defeated an attempt by German naval vessels in the bay to interfere with his operations; he completely destroyed the Spanish fleet without the loss of a single American and with only eight men wounded (see Manila Bay, Battle of). Six days later Dewey was made a rear admiral. On August 13, he aided General Wesley Merritt in capturing Manila. In further recognition of his services, Dewey was promoted (1899) to the special rank of Admiral of the Navy, and Congress passed a special act to enable him to continue in active service past the legal retirement age. He also served as president of the General Board of the U.S. Navy from 1900 until his death in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 1917.