Charles Vernon Gridley
Encyclopedia
Charles Vernon Gridley was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
and the Spanish-American War
.
on 24 November 1844.
, Gridley was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
in 1860. Reporting for duty with his class in September 1863, Gridley joined the sloop-of-war
Oneida
with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and distinguished himself with David Farragut
at the Battle of Mobile Bay
on 5 August 1864.
Gridley was promoted to lieutenant
in 1867. From 1871 to 1875, Gridley was stationed on the only United States Navy ship based on the Great Lakes
at the time, the USS Michigan
, at Erie, Pennsylvania
. While stationed in Erie, he married the daughter of Judge John P. Vincent and had three children. Gridley's wife was also a cousin of the late Civil War Hero, Brigadier General Strong Vincent
. Gridley was promoted to commander
in 1882. He spent the next 30 years at various stations around the world, including a tour as instructor at the Naval Academy. Captain Gridley took command of , Admiral George Dewey
's famous flagship
on 27 April 1898. During the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898, Dewey gave his famous command, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," immortalizing the captain.
After the destruction of the Spanish
fleet and the capture of Manila
, Gridley was obliged to leave his command because of his health, and died en route to the United States at Kobe, Japan.
Four ships
in the United States Navy have been named for him.
A monument to Gridley was erected in Erie and placed in the center of a city park, which was named Gridley Park. The engraved plaque affixed to the monument is made of a metal panel retrieved from the USS Maine
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
.
Early life
Gridley is directly descended from Thomas Gridley (1612–1653), who emigrated from England to the New England area in 1633. Gridley was born in Logansport, IndianaLogansport, Indiana
Logansport is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Indiana, United States. The population was 18,396 at the 2010 census. Logansport is located in northern Indiana, at the junction of the Wabash and Eel rivers, northeast of Lafayette.-History:...
on 24 November 1844.
Naval career
After attending Hillsdale CollegeHillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
, Gridley was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1860. Reporting for duty with his class in September 1863, Gridley joined the sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
Oneida
USS Oneida (1861)
The second USS Oneida was a screw sloop-of-war in the United States Navy. During the Civil War, she destroyed the CSS Governor Moore and served in blockade operations. She was attached to the Asiatic Squadron from 1867–1870. She sank in 1870 outside Yokohama, Japan after the British steamer City...
with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and distinguished himself with David Farragut
David Farragut
David Glasgow Farragut was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the...
at the Battle of Mobile Bay
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm...
on 5 August 1864.
Gridley was promoted to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1867. From 1871 to 1875, Gridley was stationed on the only United States Navy ship based on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
at the time, the USS Michigan
USS Michigan (1843)
|USS Michigan was the United States Navy's first iron-hulled warship and served during the American Civil War. She was renamed USS Wolverine in 1905.-Early career:...
, at Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
. While stationed in Erie, he married the daughter of Judge John P. Vincent and had three children. Gridley's wife was also a cousin of the late Civil War Hero, Brigadier General Strong Vincent
Strong Vincent
Strong Vincent was a lawyer who became famous as a U.S. Army officer during the fighting on Little Round Top at the American Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, where he was mortally wounded.-Early life:...
. Gridley was promoted to commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
in 1882. He spent the next 30 years at various stations around the world, including a tour as instructor at the Naval Academy. Captain Gridley took command of , Admiral George Dewey
George Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
's famous flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
on 27 April 1898. During the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898, Dewey gave his famous command, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," immortalizing the captain.
After the destruction of the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
fleet and the capture of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Gridley was obliged to leave his command because of his health, and died en route to the United States at Kobe, Japan.
Legacy
USS Gridley
Four United States Navy ships have been named USS Gridley in honor of Charles Vernon Gridley., was a Wickes-class destroyer, launched in 1918, permanently decommissioned in 1922, and scrapped in 1937...
in the United States Navy have been named for him.
A monument to Gridley was erected in Erie and placed in the center of a city park, which was named Gridley Park. The engraved plaque affixed to the monument is made of a metal panel retrieved from the USS Maine
USS Maine (ACR-1)
USS Maine was the United States Navy's second commissioned pre-dreadnought battleship, although she was originally classified as an armored cruiser. She is best known for her catastrophic loss in Havana harbor. Maine had been sent to Havana, Cuba to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt...
.