Frederick Vallette McNair (January 13, 1839 – November 28, 1900) was a

rear admiral Rear admiral is a flag officer rank used by English-speaking navies. In most European navies, the equivalent rank is called counter admiral. Rear admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral. It is ...

in the United States Navy. The destroyer is named after him.

Biography

McNail was born in Abington,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

. He was appointed

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest Military rank#Subordinate/student officer, rank in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Royal Cana ...

on December 21, 1853, graduating from the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

in 1857. He served on the Atlantic blockade stations and Mississippi River patrols during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, rising to the rank of

in July 1898. He served as superintendent of the Naval Observatory from June 28, 1890, to November 21, 1894, and

Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy The superintendent of the United States Naval Academy is its commanding officer. The position is a statutory office (), and is roughly equivalent to the Chancellor (education), chancellor or University president, president of an American civilian ...

from 1898 to 1900.

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a flag officer rank used by English-speaking navies. In most European navies, the equivalent rank is called counter admiral. Rear admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral. It is ...

McNair died in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, on November 28, 1900, while awaiting orders. He was the father of Frederick V. McNair Jr.; the great-grandfather of tennis star Frederick V. McNair, IV and poet/novelist Lailee McNair.

References

1839 births 1900 deaths People from Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania United States Naval Academy alumni Military personnel from Pennsylvania People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Union Navy officers Superintendents of the United States Naval Academy United States Navy admirals Burials at Arlington National Cemetery {{US-navy-bio-stub

Biography

See also

References