Dewey
Dewey names 3 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below. 1 of them is described by more than one encyclopedia.
Dewey GEORGE, an American naval officer
Described by 2 of the 6 encyclopedias.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
GEORGE, an American naval officer; born in Montpelier, Vt., Dec. 26, 1837. He came of New England stock, his father being Dr. Julius Y. Dewey, one of the first authorities on life insurance in his day. At the age of 17, after a preparatory course in the Northfield Military School, young Dewey was appointed a cadet at Annapolis, in the class which graduated in 1858. A practice cruise on the "Wabash" followed, and he was resting at home when the Civil War broke out. At once he was commissioned a lieutenant and assigned to the "Mississippi," a 17-gun steamsloop of the old side-wheel type, under Commander Melanchthon Smith. His first serious taste of war was when the West Gulf squadron, early in 1862, forced a passage up the Mississippi river ahead of Farragut. A later enterprise resulted in the grounding of the "Mississippi," in the middle of the night, while attempting to run the batteries of Port Hudson. Here she was riddled with ADMIRAL DEWEY shot and set afire by the enemy's batteries, so that officers and crew had to abandon her. Other notable engagements in which Dewey figured during the Civil War were at Donaldsonville in 1863, where he was on one of the gunboats, and at Fort Fisher in the winter of 1864-1865, as an officer of the "Agawam." Receiving his commission as lieutenant-commander in March, 1865, he served for two years on the "Kearsarge" and the "Colorado," and was then attached to the Naval Academy for two years more. In 1870 he was given command of the "Narragansett," and during his five years' charge of her rose to be a commander. He was then attached to the Lighthouse Board, and in 1882 took his next sea duty in command of the "Juniata," of the Asiatic squadron. On reaching his captaincy, in 1884, he took charge of the "Dolphin," one of the first vessels of the "new navy." From 1885 to 1888 he commanded the "Pensacola," then flagship of the European squadron. Ashore he served as chief of the Bureau of Equipment at the Navy Department, and afterward the Lighthouse Board for a second time. In 1896 he was promoted to commodore, and made head of the inspection board; and at the beginning of 1898 was given command of the Asiatic squadron. With his squadron he left Mirs Bay, China, April 27, 1898, with orders to "capture or destroy the Spanish squadron," which was then supposed to be in Manila Bay, under command of Admiral Montojo. The squadron entered the channel of Manila at 11:30 P. M., Saturday, April 30, and early on Sunday morning, May 1, sank, burned or captured all the ships of the Spanish squadron in the bay, silenced and destroyed three land batteries, obtained complete control of the bay, without losing a single man. In recognition of this achievement, Commodore Dewey received the thanks of Congress, which awarded to him a magnificent sword, and medals to his men. On May 7, 1898, he was promoted to be a rear-admiral, and subsequently (March 3, 1899) was made Admiral of the Navy under an act of Congress, approved March 2, 1899, restoring that rank. In 1901 he was president of the Court of Inquiry which was appointed at the request of Rear-Admiral Schley, and in the same year was appointed President of the Navy Board, which position he held until his death, Jan. 16, 1917.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
George, an American naval commander. He was born at Montpelier, Vermont, December 26, 1837. He took the regular course of training at the Anapolis Naval Academy , graduating with the class of 1858. His first actual experience in naval warfare occurred while serving as a lieutenant in the fleet under Admiral Farragut. He took part in the opening of the lower Mississippi and in other naval operations of the Civil War. In 1870 he received his first command in the warship Narragansett. In 1882 he joined the Asiatic squadron in command of the Juanita. Two years later he was made captain of the Dolphin. He was attached to various boards and bureaus of the navy department . In 1898, just before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, he was placed in command of the United States squadron in Asiatic waters. April 27, 1898, he set sail from China under orders "to capture or destroy the Spanish squadron," then thought to be in Philippine waters. He entered the channel of Manila Saturday evening, April 30th, and early the next morning he captured or burned the entire Spanish fleet, silenced the land batteries, and took possession of the bay. Nine Americans were wounded; none were killed. On the 18th of August following the city of Manila was taken. In recognition of his decisive victory in Manila Bay Congress promoted Commodore Dewey to the rank of rear-admiral. By act of March 2, 1899, the rank of admiral of the navy was restored for the express purpose of conferring honor on him. He is the third admiral of the American navy. His predecessors were Admirals Farragut and Porter. See Navy
Dewey JOHN, an American educator
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
JOHN, an American educator, born in Burlington, Vt., in 1859. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1879 and took post-graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University. He was on the faculty of the University of Minnesota as professor of philosophy in 1888-1889, and at the University of Michigan from 1889 to 1894. From 1894 to 1904 he was professor and head of the department of philosophy at the University of Chicago and was director of the School of Education at that institution from 1902 to 1904. From 1904 he was professor of philosophy at Columbia University, at the same time acting as lecturer on psychology. He was president of the American Psychological Association, and the American Philosophical Society. He wrote many works on philosophy and psychology, including "School and Society" (1899); "Studies in Logical Theory" ry" (1903); "How to Think" (1909); "German Philosophy and Politics" (1915); and "Democracy and Education" (1916).
Dewey MELVIL, an American librarian
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
MELVIL, an American librarian, born at Adams Center, N. Y., in 1851. He graduated from Amherst College in 1874. After serving as librarian at Amherst College, he became chief librarian and professor of library economy at Columbia University. From 1906 he was director of the New York State Library, and from 1891 to 1906 he was director of the Home Education Department. He was secretary and executive officer of the University of the State of New York from 1889 to 1900, and from 1904 to 1906 was State director of libraries in New York. He was one of the chief advocates of spelling reform, and was editor of the "A. L. A. Catalog" (1904); and "The Library"; and of various journals and reports. He was a member and officer of many educational societies.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's in 1921 could already record George Dewey's death (Jan. 16, 1917), and his Manila Bay victory of May 1, 1898 still reads as told — though modern historians dwell on what the accounts pass over quickly: the American annexation of the Philippines that followed sparked a war with Filipino nationalists lasting from 1899 to 1902, and the islands only became independent on July 4, 1946. Aiton's 1910 note that he was "the third admiral of the American navy" remains true; Admiral of the Navy was never conferred on anyone else. The John Dewey entry, written when he was 62 and newly at Columbia, stops long before the work he is now best known for: he lived until June 1, 1952, chaired the 1937 commission in Mexico that examined Stalin's charges against Trotsky, and became the most cited philosopher of American education, with "Democracy and Education" (1916) still assigned in teacher-training courses worldwide.
Written for this edition, 2026.