Montgomery M. Taylor
Encyclopedia
Montgomery Meigs Taylor (October 13, 1869 – October 21, 1952) was an admiral
in the United States Navy
who served as Commander in Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet
(CINCAF) from 1931 to 1933.
to Joseph Hancock and Mary Meigs Taylor. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy
in 1890, where he had played halfback on the football team, his first assignment was aboard the , receiving his commission as an ensign in 1892.
During the Spanish-American War, Taylor served as a battery commander aboard the , Admiral George Dewey
's flagship, and took part in the Battle of Manila Bay.
Following the war, he was the first commander of the from 1903 to 1905, followed by command of the 2nd Torpedo Flotilla from 1905 to 1906, and the receiving ship from 1906 to 1908.
He served as executive officer of the from 1908 to 1909, and the from 1909 to 1910. He was then given command of the (1910–1911), followed by assignment as aide to Commandant, Navy Yard, New York City
from 1911 to 1913. He return to command on the from 1913 to 1915, then attended the Naval War College, graduating in 1916, whereupon he was given command of the . In 1917, he was attached to the Office of Naval Operations at the Navy Department, followed the next year with command of the , operating with the British Grand Fleet during World War I
, for which he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
.
After the war, he returned to the staff of the Naval War College from 1919 to 1921. He was next assigned as a member of the Naval Examining and Retiring Board, and later that year he was appointed commander of the Control Force, and as commander of all Atlantic submarines. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1922. Taylor was director of fleet training for the Navy Department from 1925 to 1927 and afterward commanded the Third Battleship Division of the Battle Fleet
. Promoted to Vice Admiral, he was given command of the Scouting Fleet
.
He returned to Washington as chief of the War Plans Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations from 1929 until he became Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet in 1931. In 1936 he was appointed to serve on the United States Maritime Commission
. He retired from the Navy on November 1, 1936.
He died at Bethesda Naval Medical Center of a stroke on October 21, 1952 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
. Taylor never married.
His awards and medals included the Dewey Medal
, Spanish Campaign Medal
, Philippine Campaign Medal
, World War I Victory Medal, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
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...
who served as 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...
(CINCAF) from 1931 to 1933.
Military career
Taylor was born on October 13, 1869 in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to Joseph Hancock and Mary Meigs Taylor. After graduating 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 1890, where he had played halfback on the football team, his first assignment was aboard the , receiving his commission as an ensign in 1892.
During the Spanish-American War, Taylor served as a battery commander aboard the , 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 flagship, and took part in the Battle of Manila Bay.
Following the war, he was the first commander of the from 1903 to 1905, followed by command of the 2nd Torpedo Flotilla from 1905 to 1906, and the receiving ship from 1906 to 1908.
He served as executive officer of the from 1908 to 1909, and the from 1909 to 1910. He was then given command of the (1910–1911), followed by assignment as aide to Commandant, Navy Yard, New York City
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
from 1911 to 1913. He return to command on the from 1913 to 1915, then attended the Naval War College, graduating in 1916, whereupon he was given command of the . In 1917, he was attached to the Office of Naval Operations at the Navy Department, followed the next year with command of the , operating with the British Grand Fleet 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...
, for which he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
.
After the war, he returned to the staff of the Naval War College from 1919 to 1921. He was next assigned as a member of the Naval Examining and Retiring Board, and later that year he was appointed commander of the Control Force, and as commander of all Atlantic submarines. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1922. Taylor was director of fleet training for the Navy Department from 1925 to 1927 and afterward commanded the Third Battleship Division of the Battle Fleet
Battle Fleet
The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941.The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This fleet comprised the main body of ships in the Navy,...
. Promoted to Vice Admiral, he was given command of the Scouting Fleet
Scouting Fleet
The Scouting Fleet was part of the United States Fleet in the United States Navy, and renamed the Scouting Force in 1930.Established in 1922, the fleet consisted mainly of older battleships and initially operated in the Atlantic...
.
He returned to Washington as chief of the War Plans Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations from 1929 until he became Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet in 1931. In 1936 he was appointed to serve on the United States Maritime Commission
United States Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I...
. He retired from the Navy on November 1, 1936.
He died at Bethesda Naval Medical Center of a stroke on October 21, 1952 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. Taylor never married.
His awards and medals included the Dewey Medal
Dewey Medal
The Dewey Medal was a military decoration of the United States Navy which was established by the United States Congress on June 3, 1898. The medal recognizes the leadership of Admiral of the Navy George Dewey, during the Spanish-American War, and the sailors and marines under his command.The Dewey...
, Spanish Campaign Medal
Spanish Campaign Medal
The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those members of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish-American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish Campaign Medal, one for members of the United...
, Philippine Campaign Medal
Philippine Campaign Medal
The Philippine Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military members in the Philippine-American War between the years of 1899 and 1913. Although a single service medal, the Philippine Campaign Medal was issued under...
, World War I Victory Medal, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
.