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Waddell, James Iredell

(Encyclopedia)Waddell, James Iredell wŏdĕlˈ [key], 1824–86, Confederate naval officer in the American Civil War, b. Pittsboro, N.C. He was appointed a midshipman in the U.S. navy in 1841. On return from duty i...

Fisher, John Arbuthnot Fisher, 1st Baron

(Encyclopedia)Fisher, John Arbuthnot Fisher, 1st Baron ärbŭthˈnət [key], 1841–1920, British admiral. Entering the navy in 1854, he specialized in gunnery and in 1872 was responsible for instituting the develo...

Walker, William

(Encyclopedia)Walker, William, 1824–60, American filibuster in Nicaragua, b. Nashville, Tenn. Walker, a qualified doctor, a lawyer, and a journalist by the time he was 24, sought a more adventurous career. After ...

Goldsborough, Louis Malesherbes

(Encyclopedia)Goldsborough, Louis Malesherbes mălzûrbˈ gōlˈbərə [key], 1805–77, American naval officer, b. Washington, D.C. Appointed a midshipman in 1812, he fought in the Mediterranean and in the Mexican...

Navarrete, Martín Fernández de

(Encyclopedia)Navarrete, Martín Fernández de nävärāˈtā [key], 1765–1844, Spanish historian and hydrographer. Joining (1780) the Spanish navy, he entered (1796) the navy department and later established it...

Tirpitz, Alfred von

(Encyclopedia)Tirpitz, Alfred von älˈfrāt fən tĭrˈpĭts [key], 1849–1930, German admiral. His influence on German naval policy began with his study of the recently invented torpedo and his consequent appoin...

Fountain Valley

(Encyclopedia)Fountain Valley, city (2020 pop. 57,047), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1957. Chiefly residential, Fountain Valley also has diverse manufactures, including...

Dewey, George

(Encyclopedia)Dewey, George do͞oˈē, dyo͞oˈ– [key], 1837–1917, American admiral, hero of the battle of Manila, b. Montpelier, Vt., grad. Annapolis, 1858. He saw active duty in the Civil War and rose in the ...

Arguello, Point

(Encyclopedia)Arguello, Point ärgwēlˈō [key], promontory, SW Calif., extending W into the Pacific Ocean. A U.S. navy missile-launching complex is nearby. ...

Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard

(Encyclopedia)Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard dălˈgrən [key], 1809–70, American naval officer, b. Philadelphia. Appointed a midshipman in 1826, he had a long and honorable naval career. In charge of ordnance a...

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