- George Partridge Colvocoresses
George Partridge Colvocoresses (
April 3 ,1847 - ?) was aUnited States Navy rear admiral. He was the son ofCaptain George M. Colvocoresses, the adopted son of CaptainAlden Partridge , founder ofNorwich University inVermont . George P. was a graduate of theNorwich University class of 1866 and led a distinguished military career.He born in
Norwich ,Vermont ,April 3 ,1847 , to Greek immigrant George M. Colvocoresses and Adeline Maria Swasey. He served under his father on the USS "Supply" on South Atlantic blockade duty.The younger Colvocoresses eventually rose to the rank of Rear Admiral and was Commandant of Cadets at the
United States Naval Academy atAnnapolis ; he was a member of theDistrict of Columbia andNew York Commanderies.Naval career
The son of
George Colvocoresses , he was named for his father's benefactor,Alden Partridge , and served under then-CommodoreGeorge Dewey in theAsiatic Fleet . He distinguished himself in service as a junior officer on the cruiser "Concord" at theBattle of Manila Bay ,May 1 ,1898 in theSpanish-American War , where theUnited States won a decisive victory over theSpanish Armada , helping to end the Spanish naval threat and establish the U.S. as one of the world's military "super powers."Asa Walker , Commander, U. S. N., CommandingAsiatic Fleet , had the following to say: "Each and every one of my subordinates did his whole duty with an enthusiasm and zeal beyond all praise. I am particularly indebted to the executive officer, Lieut. Commander George P. Colvocoresses, for the cool, deliberate, and efficient manner with which he met each phase of the action, and for his hearty cooperation in my plans." [http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:1LhVW83DMDkJ:www.history.navy.mil/docs/spanam/manila5.htm+GEORGE+P.+COLVOCORESSES+&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4]Colvocoresses served on most of the foreign naval stations, and in the Hydrographic Office at Washington, and in 1886 was assistant instructor in drawing at the United States Naval Academy, where he was an instructor in 1893-96 and commandant of midshipmen in 1905-09. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_International_Encyclopedia]
In 1890 the officers and men of the
United States Navy dedicated a granite-and-marble monument to the memory of Lieut.George Washington De Long and the crew of the USS "Jeannette". Lieut. George P. Colvocoresses designed the monument—a cross with carved icicles hanging from it that sits atop a cairn. The convert|24|ft|m|sing=on-high structure is in theU.S. Naval Academy Cemetery overlooking theSevern River . [http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:kZLuj7LN2UsJ:www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/1997/may/letters_may97.php+GEORGE+P.+COLVOCORESSES+&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=7]In 1919 Rear Adm. Colvocoresses, whose name appears on the
Centennial Staircase atNorwich , delivered an address about Capt.Alden Partridge on the 100th anniversary of the founding ofNorwich University .Rear Adm. Colvocoresses, married to Minne D., had one daughter and two sons: Edith B., Harold, and George M. (II) Colvocoresses. The son of George M. (II) Colvocoresses, Col.
Alden Partridge Colvocoresses , USA (Ret.), went on to develop the first satellite map of theUnited States .
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