George A. Converse

Converse was born in Norwich, Vermont.[1] He attended Norwich University and was a member of Theta Chi fraternity.

Converse was appointed midshipman 29 November 1861. He was a pioneer in the use of electricity on board men-of-war, in experimentation with and introduction of smokeless powder in the Navy, and in development of torpedo boats. In command of Montgomery (C-9) from 1897 to 1899 he took an active part in operations off the coast of Cuba with Admiral William T. Sampson's squadron during the Spanish–American War. Commanding officer of USS Illinois (BB-7) from her commissioning in 1901 to 1903. From 1903 to 1906 he served successively as Chief of the Bureaus of Equipment, Ordnance, and Navigation, continuing as Chief of the latter Bureau for a year after his retirement in 1906. He died in Washington, D.C., 29 March 1909. Converse and his wife Laura Shelby (1851–1934) are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section #2 Plot #967.[2]

Two destroyers have been named USS Converse in his honor.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• George Albert Converse, Rear Admiral, United States Navy, ArlingtonCemetery•net, an unofficial website
• DANFS biography of George Converse
• The George Albert Converse Papers and Photographs, 1861–1897 This digital collection contains hundreds of documents and photographs that comprise the physical collection held by SMU's DeGolyer Library.