hen at Norwich, Vermont, and graduated at the United States Naval
Academy in 1858. He was commissioned lieutenant in April 1861, and in
the Civil War served on the steamsloop "Mississippi" (1861-1863) during
Farragut's passage of the forts below New Orleans in April 1862, and at
Port Hudson in March 1863; took part in the fighting below
Donaldsonville, Louisiana, in July 1863; and in 1864-1865 served on the
steam-gunboat "Agawam" with the North Atlantic blockading squadron and
took part in the attacks on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and January
1865. In March 1865 he became a lieutenant-commander. He was with the
European squadron in 1866-1867; was an instructor in the United States
Naval Academy in 1868-1869; was in command of the "Narragansett" in
1870-1871 and 1872-1875, being commissioned commander in 1872; was
light-house inspector in 1876-1877; and was secretary of the light-house
board in 1877-1882. In 1884 he became a captain; in 1889-1893 was chief
of the bureau of equipment and recruiting; in 1893-1895 was a member of
the light-house board; and in 1895-1897 was president of the board of
inspection and survey, being promoted to the rank of commodore in
February 1896. In November 1897 he was assigned, at his own request, to
sea service, and sent to Asiatic waters. In April 1898, while with his
fleet at Hong Kong, he was notified by cable that war had begun between
the United States and Spain, and was ordered to "capture or destroy the
Spanish fleet" then in Philippine waters. On the 1st of May he
overwhelmingly defeated the Spanish fleet under Admiral Montojo in
Manila Bay, a victory won without the loss of a man on the American
ships (see SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR). Congress, in a joint resolution,
tendered its thanks to Commodore Dewey, and to the officers and men
under his command, and authorized "the secretary of the navy to present
a sword of honor to Commodore George Dewey, and cause to be struck
bronze medals commemorating the battle of Manila Bay, and to distribute
such medals to the officers and men of the ships of the Asiatic squadron
of the United States." He was promoted rear-admiral on the 10th of May
1898. On the 18th of August his squadron assisted in the capture of the
city of Manila. After remaining in the Philippines under orders from his
government to maintain control, Dewey received the rank of admiral
(March 3, 1899)--that title, formerly borne only by Farragut and Porter,
having been revived by ac