George C. Day
Encyclopedia
George Calvin Day was a rear admiral
of the United States Navy
, whose career lasted from the 1890s until the mid-1930s.
, the son of Hezron George Day, on 8 November 1871, Day graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1892, was promoted to Ensign
on 1 July 1894, Lieutenant (junior grade) on 3 March 1899, and Lieutenant
in 1901. He was Executive Officer of during 1907.
From 1907 to 1909, at the rank of Lieutenant Commander
, he served as Navigator of the flagship and ex-officio Fleet Navigator during the 'round the world cruise of the Great White Fleet
. He commanded the destroyer from 1909 to 1910, and Division 7 of the Torpedo Squadron, Atlantic Fleet
, from 1910 to 1911. He was in charge of the Navy Publicity Bureau in New York City
from 1911 to 1913, was Executive Officer of the battleship from 1914 to 1915, and commanded the armored cruiser
from 1915 to 1916.
By 1917 he was the Head of the Department of Compasses, Nautical Instruments, and Time Service at the Naval Observatory
. During World War I
, in the rank of Captain, he commanded the troop transport , formerly the German liner SS Amerika, and was awarded the Navy Cross
for this service. He commanded the armored cruiser from 1918 to 1919 and the battleship from 1920 to 1921, and was Commander, Submarines, Pacific
, 1923 to 1925.
In 1923 he was a member of the Navy's Court of Inquiry on the Honda Point Disaster
. Promoted to Rear Admiral
in 1925, he served first as Commandant of the 15th Naval District, and was Commander of Cruiser Division 4 from 1927 to 1928. He was President of the Board of Inspection and Survey
in 1929, was a member of the General Board in 1930 and again was President of the Board of Inspection and Survey from 1931 until his retirement in 1935.
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 :...
of 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...
, whose career lasted from the 1890s until the mid-1930s.
Biography
Born in Bradford, VermontBradford, Vermont
Bradford is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,619 at the 2000 census.-History:The first settler was John Hosmer in 1765...
, the son of Hezron George Day, on 8 November 1871, Day graduated from 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 1892, was promoted to Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
on 1 July 1894, Lieutenant (junior grade) on 3 March 1899, and 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 1901. He was Executive Officer of during 1907.
From 1907 to 1909, at the rank of Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
, he served as Navigator of the flagship and ex-officio Fleet Navigator during the 'round the world cruise of the Great White Fleet
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
. He commanded the destroyer from 1909 to 1910, and Division 7 of the Torpedo Squadron, Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
, from 1910 to 1911. He was in charge of the Navy Publicity Bureau in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1911 to 1913, was Executive Officer of the battleship from 1914 to 1915, and commanded the armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
from 1915 to 1916.
By 1917 he was the Head of the Department of Compasses, Nautical Instruments, and Time Service at the Naval Observatory
United States Naval Observatory
The United States Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce Positioning, Navigation, and Timing for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in the rank of Captain, he commanded the troop transport , formerly the German liner SS Amerika, and was awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for this service. He commanded the armored cruiser from 1918 to 1919 and the battleship from 1920 to 1921, and was Commander, Submarines, Pacific
ComSubPac
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the principal advisor to the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet for submarine matters. The Pacific Submarine Force includes attack, ballistic missile and auxiliary submarines, submarine tenders, floating submarine docks, deep submergence...
, 1923 to 1925.
In 1923 he was a member of the Navy's Court of Inquiry on the Honda Point Disaster
Honda Point Disaster
The Honda Point Disaster was the largest peacetime loss of U.S. Navy ships. On the evening of September 8, 1923, seven destroyers, while traveling at 20 knots , ran aground at Honda Point, a few miles from the northern side of the Santa Barbara Channel off Point Arguello on the coast in Santa...
. 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 1925, he served first as Commandant of the 15th Naval District, and was Commander of Cruiser Division 4 from 1927 to 1928. He was President of the Board of Inspection and Survey
Board of Inspection and Survey
The Board of Inspection and Survey is a U.S. Navy organization whose purpose is to inspect and assess material condition of Naval vessels.The Board is currently headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.- INSURV teams :...
in 1929, was a member of the General Board in 1930 and again was President of the Board of Inspection and Survey from 1931 until his retirement in 1935.