Among the famous names of U.S. Navy notables can be found George Dewey, the hero of Manila Bay. Following his overwhelming victory of 1 May 1898, the then-commodore would be elevated in rank to rear admiral then to admiral then to a unique title and grade: Admiral of the Navy. No other member of the Navy has ever held this title.
Within the military collection of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History is a series of shoulder strap insignia once worn by Dewey. Together, they chart the course of this Navy legend’s unprecedented rise.
When first posted as commander of the Asiatic Squadron in 1896, Dewey wore a single star as a commodore. After his victory at Manila Bay, he received promotion to rear admiral. The pair of rear admiral straps in the museum’s collection presumably were made in the Philippines for Dewey. In March 1899, Congress authorized creation of the grade of “Admiral of the Navy.”
The commodore insignia (top) most likely saw use from 1896 to 1898. Dewey’s rear admiral insignia (middle) are notably shorter than the other insignia, and he wore this rank only while in the Philippines. Of interest is the lone admiral strap (bottom right) with silver rather than gold fouled anchors. This piece most likely dates from March to September 1899 (prior to Dewey’s return to the United States). This conclusion is based on the reverse of the strap, with bullion embroidery listing “Adolfo Richter Co // 15 Escolta 15 // Manila.” The Admiral/Admiral of the Navy straps with the gold fouled anchors (bottom left) have no manufacturing markings.
Interestingly, some word-tweaking was involved in Dewey’s ultimate rank title: When President William McKinley submitted his nomination for Dewey to the new grade, he wrote the term “Admiral in the Navy.” During the administration of McKinley’s successor, President Theodore Roosevelt addressed this minor divergence, and the Senate approved Dewey in the grade of Admiral of the Navy, retroactive to 2 March 1899.
—Frank Blazich Jr.,
lead curator, military history,
National Museum of American History