Fifteenth Generation

311. Admiral George Clyde DEWEY^4,15 was born on 26 December 1837 in Montpelier, Washington County, VT.^89,90,203 Biographical Sketch

"George Dewey was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on December 26, 1837. He was the youngest son of Julius Yemans Dewey (1801-1877) and Mary Perrin Dewey (1799-1843), who died when the boy was five years old.

The family remained close
despite their loss and George Dewey grew up to be, as his father described him, a
“natural leader.”

George Dewey’s naval career began at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, when he was seventeen years old. He attended Norwich with the intent to prepare himself for the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, to which he transferred in 1855. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1858, the fifth in his class.

The following two years he experienced his first taste of naval life on the frigate Wabash in the Mediterranean. In 1861 he was commissioned lieutenant of the Mississippi, which was one of the largest and heaviest armed ships in the Union Navy; a few months later he was made executive officer of the side-wheeler.

Between 1868-1869 he was an instructor at the Naval Academy, and in 1870 he was assigned to the steamer Narragansett for
special service. He was eventually made commander of the Narragansett and was sent to
survey the Pacific Coast for four years. In 1882 he was assigned to command the Juanita in the Asiatic squadron, and two years later he was promoted to Captain and assigned to command the Dolphin.

In 1889 he was Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and recruiting and earned the rank of Commodore in 1896. The next year he was sent to China in
command of the Asiatic Squadron.

George Dewey is most famous for the May 1, 1898, defeat of the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the Philippine Islands. This victory made the United States one of the principal powers in the East, renewed confidence in the Navy, and made George Dewey
admired by his country. Celebrations were held throughout the country.

In Vermont, to honor its hometown hero, Dewey Day was held in Montpelier on October 12, 1899. All sorts of Dewey memorabilia were sold throughout the country, everything from fine china to soap. During Dewey’s lifetime he was one of the most famous men in America.

On May 9, 1898, President William McKinley recommended Congress to appoint George Dewey to Acting Rear Admiral of the United States Navy for his patriotism and success at the Battle of Manila Bay."

. He graduated in 1858 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, MD.¹⁵ He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. About 1870 he was .⁴ He guided the Mississippi as its Executive Officer in Farragut's historic dash past New Orleans and its forts. He then won the naval battle at Manila Bay and captured vessels or destroyed them during the spanish-american war. As a result, he received a promotion to Admiral of the Navy. George died on 16 January 1917 at the age of 79 in Washington, District of Columbia.^15,203,204 Obituary Notes: "The nation is mourning the death of Admiral Dewey, who passed away at 6:56 last evening, after a few days' illness.

The funeral will probably be held Saturday and will be marked by solemn military rites. President Wilson, Secretary Daniels and other prominent men will attend. The body will be laid to rest in Arlington cemetery.

Admiral George Dewey, of the United States Navy, the 'Hero of Manila Bay', was born in Montepelier Vt., December 27, 1837, the son of Dr. Julius Yemans and Mary (Perrin) Dewey. He was a descendant in the ninth generation, of the first Dewey who came to Dorchester, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1633 from Sandwich, England. The Admiral's father was a deeply religious man and founded Christ Episcopal Church in Monpelier, where this George was baptised, went to Sunday school and was confirmed. The first funeral which took place there was that of George Dewey's mother, when he was but five years old.

It was a rather odd coincidence that the ancestral arms of the Dewey bore the motto, 'A Crown the Conqueror is Due' and that, when George was but a little chap his father proudly used to call him his 'little hero." George was a manly boy, full of vitality and inborn courage and ever fond of action and adventure.

George Dewey received his first education at the Washington County Grammar School in Montpelier, which had obtained a rather unenviable reputation thru the mischieviousness and rebelliousness of the pupils. Young Dewey formed no exception, but soon became a leader of the rebellious set. But, when a new teacher, afterwards Major Z. K. Pangborn, came to the school who insisted upon strict discipline and administered George Dewey a severe whipping, the former leader of the mutineers became reformed and daily worshipped the teacher who had thursasserted his sense of duty. When Pangborn went to Johnson, Vt., a year or so later, young Dewey insisted upon following him to that city.

At the age of fifteen, George Dewey was sent to the Norwich Mility Academy at Norwich, Vt. His father wished him to choose a military career, but George preferred the sea and was happy when he received an appointment for Annapolis thru Senator Foote. Dewey entered the class of '54 at the Naval Academy at the age of 17 and soon distinguished himself not only by his prowess in all athletic sports but also by the promptness with which he resulted insults from other cadets. He graduated the fifth in his class of sixty-five in 1858.

Dewey was at his home in Montpelier when Fort Sumter was fired upon. One week later he obtained his commission as a lieutenant and was ordered on the steam sloop Mississippi of the west gulf squadron. Admiral Farragut raised his flag over this fleet in February, 1862 and it was the privilege of Lieut. Dewey to serve and distinguish himself under the eyes of the famous naval hero. Admiral Farragut conceived a great liking for the dashing and yet coolheaded young officer and distinguished him by making him first lieutenant of one of the gunboats which Farragut used as a dispatch boat.

After the war, Lieutenant Commander Dewey served two years on the European squadron and after his return, while on duty at Portsmouth he married Miss Sonia Goodwin, daughter of Governor Goodwin of New Hampshire. She died in 1872, shortly after the birth of a son, who became a merchant in New York.

In 1868 George Dewey was attached to the Naval Academy and in 1870 he received his first command, that of the Narragansett. He was made commander in 1875 and was assigned to the Lighthouse Board. Next he was placed in command of the Juniata of the Asiatic squadron and in 1884 he was made captain and placed in command of the Dolphin. He was made Commodore on February 9, 1896.

At the beginning of the war with Spain, Dewey was in command of the American Fleet, which had previously been congregated at Hong Kong, China. As soon as the hostilities were known to have begun, Dewey proceeded with his fleet to Manila, the capital of the Philippine Islands. On Sunday morning, May 1, 1898, before dawn of day Dewey's fleet sailed past the outer forts and regardless of the submarine mines into the outer harbor and at Sunrise engaged the Spanish fleet of war ships commanded by Admiral Montojo. Before noon the Spanish fleet was entirely destroyed, with a loss of 412 officers and men killed or wounded. While on the American side none were killed and but seven men wounded. When the official report of the battle reached Washington, Commorore Dewey was at once made a Rear Admiral and Congress voted him a resolution of thanks. He was further honored by receiving the degree of LLD by the University of Pennsylvania and by Princeton University and by the presentation to him, the following year, of a beautiful house in Washington, which he in turn presented to his second wife, formerly Mrs. Mildred McLean Hazon. In 1869 he was made a member of the Philippine Commissions and promote to the rank of admiral. Later he became chief of the general board of the Navy.

Congress adjourned until Saturday as a mark of respect to Admiral Dewe's memory. All government departments will close while his funeral services are held in the rotunda of the capitol." He was buried on 20 January 1917 in Washington, District of Columbia.^4,90 in the Arlington National Cemetery.

Admiral George Clyde DEWEY and Susan P. GOODWIN were married on 24 October 1867. Susan P. GOODWIN died in 1872.⁴

Admiral George Clyde DEWEY and Susan P. GOODWIN had the following children:

Admiral George Clyde DEWEY and Mildred HAZON were married about 1898 in Washington, District of Columbia.¹⁵ Mildred HAZON¹⁵ was born (date unknown).