United States Navy Rear Admiral. He entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland as an Acting Midshipman on September 21, 1853. He held stations in almost every part of the world and was with General Giuseppe Garibaldi in Italy. He was made a Lieutenant Commander, and during the American Civil War served on the Atlantic blockade stations and Mississippi River patrols on the "USS Iroquois" under Admiral David G. Farragut, and as executive officer on the "USS Juanita", He was involved in attacks on Fort Fisher in 1864 to 1865. During the following years, he spent time as Executive Officer of the United States flagship "USS Brooklyn", the practice ship "USS Macedonia, the flagship "USS Franklin" and as head of the department of seamanship at the United States Naval Academy. He was Superintendent of the Naval Observatory from 1890 to 1892. As commander of the "USS Kearsarge" and of the Asiatic Squadron from 1895 to 1898 (at which time he was relieved by Commander George Dewey), Commodore McNair drilled and instructed the gunners to a high degree of proficiency which played an important part in the success of Commander Dewey during the Spanish-American War (1898) in naval actions such as the the battle of Manila Bay. He was made a Rear Admiral in July 1898 and served as Commandant of the Naval Academy from 1898 to 1900. Rear Admiral McNair died at Washington, D.C., while awaiting orders. He was the ranking Rear Admiral of the Navy at the time of his death and next in command to Admiral Dewey. In 1943, the destroyer USS McNair (DD-679) was named in his honor. His son Frederick Vallette McNair, Jr. was also an officer of the United States Navy and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at the beginning of the United States occupation of Veracruz, Mexico.
United States Navy Rear Admiral. He entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland as an Acting Midshipman on September 21, 1853. He held stations in almost every part of the world and was with General Giuseppe Garibaldi in Italy. He was made a Lieutenant Commander, and during the American Civil War served on the Atlantic blockade stations and Mississippi River patrols on the "USS Iroquois" under Admiral David G. Farragut, and as executive officer on the "USS Juanita", He was involved in attacks on Fort Fisher in 1864 to 1865. During the following years, he spent time as Executive Officer of the United States flagship "USS Brooklyn", the practice ship "USS Macedonia, the flagship "USS Franklin" and as head of the department of seamanship at the United States Naval Academy. He was Superintendent of the Naval Observatory from 1890 to 1892. As commander of the "USS Kearsarge" and of the Asiatic Squadron from 1895 to 1898 (at which time he was relieved by Commander George Dewey), Commodore McNair drilled and instructed the gunners to a high degree of proficiency which played an important part in the success of Commander Dewey during the Spanish-American War (1898) in naval actions such as the the battle of Manila Bay. He was made a Rear Admiral in July 1898 and served as Commandant of the Naval Academy from 1898 to 1900. Rear Admiral McNair died at Washington, D.C., while awaiting orders. He was the ranking Rear Admiral of the Navy at the time of his death and next in command to Admiral Dewey. In 1943, the destroyer USS McNair (DD-679) was named in his honor. His son Frederick Vallette McNair, Jr. was also an officer of the United States Navy and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at the beginning of the United States occupation of Veracruz, Mexico.
Bio by: RosalieAnn
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