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George Dewey
Commodore (later Admiral of the Navy)
"You may fire when you are ready, Gridley."
Biography
George Dewey was a veteran naval officer who had served under Admiral Farragut in the Civil War — a formative experience that taught him the value of aggressive action. Appointed commander of the Asiatic Squadron in late 1897, he prepared his fleet meticulously for potential war with Spain. When war was declared, he received orders from Assistant Secretary Roosevelt to proceed to the Philippines and destroy the Spanish fleet. On May 1, 1898, he led his squadron into Manila Bay and spent the morning methodically annihilating the Spanish Pacific Fleet. The victory was so complete — not a single American killed by enemy fire — that Congress created the special rank of Admiral of the Navy specifically for him.
Did you know?
Dewey's calm order — 'You may fire when you are ready, Gridley' — became one of the most famous commands in U.S. naval history. After Manila Bay he was so celebrated that he briefly considered running for president in 1900.
Key Battles
Battle of Manila Bay
United States victoryMay 1, 1898 · 390 total casualties
Manila Bay was one of the most lopsided naval victories in history and instantly transformed the strategic situation in the Pacific. It gave the United States control of the Philippines and positioned America as a Pacific power. The victory made Dewey a national hero overnight and opened profound questions about what the United States intended to do with its new Asian possessions.
Battle of Manila
United States victoryAugust 13, 1898 · 92 total casualties
The fall of Manila secured the Philippine capital for the United States but planted the seeds of the Philippine-American War. By excluding Aguinaldo's forces from the city, the Americans signaled that Filipino independence was not on the agenda. The Filipinos who had fought alongside Americans against Spain realized they had simply traded one colonial master for another.
Life Journey
Timeline
December 26, 1837
🌅 Birth
Born in Montpelier, Vermont
1854–1858
📚 Education
U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
1895–1897
📍 Posting
Chief of Bureau of Equipment, Washington D.C.
May 1, 1898
⚔️ Battle
Destroys Spanish Asiatic Squadron at Battle of Manila Bay, Philippines
1899–1917
📍 Posting
Admiral of the Navy, Washington D.C.
January 16, 1917
✝️ Death
Died in Washington, D.C.