David F. Sellers
Encyclopedia
David F. Sellers was an Admiral
in the United States Navy
.
. He joined the United States Navy
in 1890 and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from New Mexico
. Upon Sellers' graduation in 1894 he served in various sea assignments until 1898, including service on the Massachusetts
, Essex
, Alliance
, Independence
and Philadelphia
. During the Spanish-American War
he participated in the Samoan Campaign and the Philippine–American War while serving aboard the New York
. From 1904 until 1907 he commanded the Stewart
. Following his destroyer service he was assigned shore duty at the Bureau of Navigation
, was a Naval Aide to the White House
and then served on the staff of the Commander-In-Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet
, Rear Admiral William S. Cowles
.
During 1914 until 1915 Sellers served as Executive Officer
of the battleship Arkansas
then commanded the cruisers Birmingham
and Salem
and the battleship USS Wisconsin
in 1917. Following the First World War he served as Naval Aide to Secretary of the Navy Edwin C. Denby
. He commanded the battleship USS Maryland
from 1922 until 1923.
Sellers was promoted to Rear Admiral
in 1927 and served as Commander, Special Service Squadron
during the Nicaraguan Uprising. Following his service with the squadron he served as Judge Advocate General
of the Navy from 1929 until 1931. Then Commander, Battleship Division One from 1931-1932. In 1932 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
and was assigned as Commander, Battleships Battle Force, United States Fleet
. He was promoted to Admiral on June 10, 1933 and assigned as Commander-in-Chief United States Fleet
and continued to serve until June 18, 1934. In 1934 he was reassigned as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in this capacity until his retirement.
He retired March 1, 1938. He died in 1949.
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
in the United States Navy
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...
.
Biography
David Foote Sellers was a native of Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He joined the United States Navy
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...
in 1890 and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Upon Sellers' graduation in 1894 he served in various sea assignments until 1898, including service on the Massachusetts
USS Massachusetts (BB-2)
USS Massachusetts was an and the second United States Navy ship comparable to foreign battleships of the time. Authorized in 1890 and commissioned six years later, she was a small battleship, though with heavy armor and ordnance. The ship class also pioneered the use of an intermediate battery...
, Essex
USS Essex (1876)
|-External links:*...
, Alliance
USS Alliance (1877)
The second USS Alliance was a screw gunboat that was in service from 1877-1911 with the United States Navy.Laid down as Huron, a screw gunboat of the third rate, in 1873 at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Alliance was launched on 8 March 1875. She was sponsored by Miss Eulalie Boush, whose father, Naval...
, Independence
USS Independence (1814)
The third USS Independence was a wooden-hulled, three-masted ship, originally a ship of the line and the the first to be commissioned by the United States Navy...
and Philadelphia
USS Philadelphia (C-4)
The fourth USS Philadelphia , also known as "Cruiser No. 4", was a cruiser of the United States Navy.She was laid down 22 March 1888 by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, launched 7 September 1889, sponsored by Miss Minnie Wanamaker, daughter of merchant and philanthropist John...
. During 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...
he participated in the Samoan Campaign and the Philippine–American War while serving aboard the New York
USS New York (ACR-2)
USS New York was a United States Navy armored cruiser. The fourth Navy ship to be named in honor of the state of New York, she was later renamed Saratoga and then Rochester ....
. From 1904 until 1907 he commanded the Stewart
USS Stewart (DD-13)
The first USS Stewart was a in the United States Navy. She was named for Rear Admiral Charles Stewart.Stewart was laid down on 24 January 1900 at Morris Heights, New York, by the Gas Engine and Power Company; launched on 10 May 1902; sponsored by Mrs. Paul Lee Cocke, granddaughter of Rear Admiral...
. Following his destroyer service he was assigned shore duty at the Bureau of Navigation
Bureau of Navigation
The Bureau of Navigation was an agency of the U.S. government established in 1884 to enforce laws relating to the construction, equipment, operation, inspection, safety, and documentation of merchant vessels. The Bureau of Navigation was an agency of the U.S. government established in 1884 to...
, was a Naval Aide to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
and then served on the staff of the Commander-In-Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet
United States Asiatic Fleet
The United States Asiatic Fleet was part of the U.S. Navy. Preceding the World War II era, until 1942, the fleet protected the Philippines.Originally the Asiatic Squadron, it was upgraded to fleet status in 1902. In 1907, the fleet became the First Squadron of the Pacific Fleet. However, on 28...
, Rear Admiral William S. Cowles
William S. Cowles
William Sheffield Cowles, Sr. was an rear admiral in the United States Navy.-Naval career:Cowles commanded the gunboat, during the Spanish–American War, and served as naval aide to President McKinley...
.
During 1914 until 1915 Sellers served as Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
of the battleship Arkansas
USS Arkansas (BB-33)
USS Arkansas , a was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 25th state.A dreadnought battleship, Arkansas was laid down on 25 January 1910 at Camden, New Jersey, by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation. She was launched on 14 January 1911 sponsored by Miss Nancy Louise...
then commanded the cruisers Birmingham
USS Birmingham (CL-2)
USS Birmingham , named for the city of Birmingham, Alabama, was a laid down by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company at Quincy, Massachusetts on 14 August 1905; launched on 29 May 1907; sponsored by Mrs L...
and Salem
USS Salem (CL-3)
USS Salem , Scout Cruiser No. 3, was a of the United States Navy. She was the first Navy ship named for the city of Salem, Massachusetts....
and the battleship USS Wisconsin
USS Wisconsin (BB-9)
USS Wisconsin , an Illinois-class battleship, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 30th state.The keel of Battleship No. 9 was laid down on 9 February 1897 at San Francisco, California, by the Union Iron Works...
in 1917. Following the First World War he served as Naval Aide to Secretary of the Navy Edwin C. Denby
Edwin C. Denby
Edwin Denby was an American lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of the Navy in the administrations of Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge from 1921 to 1924. He also played a notable role in the infamous Teapot Dome scandal which took place during the Harding presidency. He was the son...
. He commanded the battleship USS Maryland
USS Maryland (BB-46)
USS Maryland , a , was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the seventh state.Her keel was laid down 24 April 1917 by Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 20 March 1920, and sponsored by Mrs. E. Brook Lee, wife of the...
from 1922 until 1923.
Sellers was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
in 1927 and served as Commander, Special Service Squadron
Special Service Squadron
The Special Service Squadron was a component of the United States Navy during the 1920s and 1930s.Under the United States Fleet, the squadron patrolled the Caribbean Sea as an instrument of gunboat diplomacy. It was headquartered in Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.-Commanders:* C.H. Hockson 1907 * Henry...
during the Nicaraguan Uprising. Following his service with the squadron he served as Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
The Judge Advocate General's Corps also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG" is the legal arm of the United States Navy. Today, the corps consists of a worldwide organization of more than 730 Judge Advocates, 30 limited duty officers , 500 enlisted members and nearly 275 civilian personnel, serving...
of the Navy from 1929 until 1931. Then Commander, Battleship Division One from 1931-1932. In 1932 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
and was assigned as Commander, Battleships Battle Force, United States Fleet
United States Fleet
The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The abbreviation CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. This title was disposed of and officially replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 . This...
. He was promoted to Admiral on June 10, 1933 and assigned as Commander-in-Chief United States Fleet
United States Fleet
The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The abbreviation CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. This title was disposed of and officially replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 . This...
and continued to serve until June 18, 1934. In 1934 he was reassigned as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in this capacity until his retirement.
He retired March 1, 1938. He died in 1949.
Namesake
- USS SellersUSS Sellers (DDG-11)USS Sellers , named for Admiral David F. Sellers USN , was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile armed destroyer in the United States Navy....
, a guided missile destroyer, was named in his honor.