The 7 Greatest American Admirals in History
The United States Navy transformed from a modest fleet into history's most formidable naval power, influenced by seven distinguished admirals. During the Civil War, David Farragut became the first full admiral, seizing New Orleans in 1862 and Mobile Bay in 1864. In 1898, George Dewey, known as Admiral of the Navy, obliterated the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Chester Nimitz took charge of the Pacific Fleet and triumphed at the Battle of Midway in 1942. William Halsey, who led the Third Fleet, famously stated, "Hit hard, hit fast, hit often." Raymond Spruance also won at Midway and later presided over the Naval War College. Hyman Rickover advanced nuclear propulsion, while Elmo Zumwalt revamped personnel policies during the Vietnam War.
Key facts
- David Farragut captured New Orleans in 1862 and Mobile Bay in 1864, uttering 'Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!'
- George Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, becoming the only Admiral of the Navy.
- Chester Nimitz commanded the US Pacific Fleet and won the Battle of Midway in 1942.
- William Halsey commanded the Third Fleet and coined 'Hit hard, hit fast, hit often.'
- Raymond Spruance won the Battle of Midway and the Philippine Sea, later serving as President of the Naval War College.
- Hyman Rickover launched the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, in 1954.
- Elmo Zumwalt commanded the Brown Water Navy in Vietnam and issued Z-grams as Chief of Naval Operations.
- The US Navy now has eleven aircraft carriers, projecting force globally.
Entities
Artists
- David Farragut
- George Dewey
- Chester Nimitz
- William Halsey
- Raymond Spruance
- Hyman Rickover
- Elmo Zumwalt
- John Paul Jones
- John Barry
- Stephen Decatur
- John Rodgers
- Ernest King
- Douglas MacArthur
- Harry F. Byrd Jr.
- Alfred Thayer Mahan
Institutions
- United States Navy
- Continental Navy
- US Naval Academy
- Columbia University
- General Electric
- Naval War College
- US Naval Institute
- Library of Congress
- US National Archives
- US Navy Office of Information
- US Naval War College Archives
- Pentagon
- Congress
Locations
- United States
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- New Orleans
- Mobile Bay
- Mexico
- California
- Mare Island
- Manila Bay
- Philippines
- Spain
- Pacific Theater
- Pearl Harbor
- Midway Island
- San Francisco
- New Jersey
- Tokyo Bay
- Scotland
- Puerto Rico
- San Juan
- Midway Atoll
- Philippine Sea
- Poland
- Schenectady
- New York
- Vietnam
- Washington
- Britain