George Dewey
(1860-1835)
WHO S/HE WAS:
George Dewey was Admiral of the Navy, the only person in United States history to have attained the rank. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War.
WHAT S/HE SAID:
To Charles Vernon Gridley, igniting the Battle of Manila Bay.
You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.
WHY S/HE MATTERED:
When news of the victory in the Battle of Manila Bay reached the United States, Dewey became a national hero. Congress awarded him a promotion to real admiral and handed out citations to members of his fleet. Although he thought about running for president, he settled for writing accounts of his famous victory and publishing his autobiography in 1913.