George Washington Steele Jr. (1879 - 1955)

Born 19 Jun 1879 in Marion, Grant, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Died 8 Feb 1955 at age 75 in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States

Biography

George W. Steele was born on June 19, 1879, and died on February 8, 1955. He was the son of George Steele and Marietta Swayzee.

Educated at Shattuck School in Faribault, Minnesota and public schools in Marion, Indiana, he attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1900. He was elected Adjutant twice.

He entered the United States Navy on graduation as a midshipman and served initially on the USS Brooklyn, serving in Asia during the Boxer Rebellion, and was commissioned as Ensign in 1902, joining the USS San Francisco. During this period, in 1903, he led a detail sent to retrieve the body of the murdered U.S. Consul in Beirut, Lebanon and participated in the international naval races in Kiel, winning the top prize.

After a tour of duty at the United States Naval Academy, he was promoted to Lieutenant (j.g.) and then Lieutenant in 1905. He commanded the USS Barry that same year and then served on the USS Illinois, participating in the worldwide voyage of the Great White Fleet and rescuing the bodies of earthquake victims in Messina.

Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1912, he joined the USS California as a gunnery officer and a navigator, leading a group of Marines ashore in order to restore order in Nicaragua, and subsequently served in the USS Pennsylvania as a navigator.

During World War I, he commanded the USS Henderson from 1914 to 1918. He was promoted to Commander in 1917, and Captain (temporary) in 1918.

He served in the Office of the Director of Naval Aviation from 1918 to 1919, and then commanded the USS Shawmut from 1919 to 1920.

Promoted to Captain (permanent) in 1921, he subsequently commanded the USS Los Angeles and the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst from 1925 to 1926, and the USS Pittsburgh from 1926 to 1928, landing troops in Shanghai, China to protect foreigners in 1927,

From 1928, to 1931, he served as naval attaché in Paris, France, Madrid, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal.

Named commander of the USS Saratoga in 1932, his naval career ended in 1932, following a court martial based on its grounding.

He worked for Guaranty Trust Company in Paris, France in 1938.

In 1942, he was recalled to service to command the pre-flight school at Del Norte, a position that he held until 1944.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH9S-39X: 13 January 2022), George Steele in household of George Steele, Marion, Center Township, Grant, Indiana, United States, 1880.

• "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM17-8GS: 30 November 2021), George W Steele in entry for George W Steele, 1900.

• "Indiana, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1919," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP5Y-HY4Z: 26 August 2019), George Washington Steele, 3 Jun 1896.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCVY-GRB: accessed 30 November 2022), George W Steele Jr., Paris, France, Consular Service, 1930.

• "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPW9-S9D: 26 November 2014), George Washington Steele, 08 Feb 1955; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.

• "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:71DK-8C3Z: 27 October 2019), George Washington Steele.

• "George W. Steele, Retired Navy Captain," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), February 9, 1955, p. 24.

See also:

• "George Washington Steele, Jr." in Together We Served, https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=AssignmentExt&ID=1531474.
• Capt George Washington Steele Jr. (1879-1955), Find-A-Grave website.