About the Naval Order of the United States
On 4 July 1890, Mr. Charles Calhoun Philbrook, Mr. Charles Frederick Bacon Philbrook, and Mr. Franklin Senter Frisbie, descendants of New Hampshire families identified as mariners since 1636, and sharing a common interest in naval and maritime history, met in Boston, Massachusetts. By formal resolution, they established a temporary
organization entitled the “Naval Commandery of the United States of America” to further those aims. A permanent organization was established on 10 November 1890, the 115th anniversary of the organization of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Eligibility for membership was based upon service “in any of the wars or in any battle in which the United States Navy or Marine Corps has participated, or who served as above in connection with the Revenue or Privateer Services.” Seeking a national base, the new Naval Commandery soon established branches in several states. On 19 June 1893, the Naval Commandery entered into a provisional consolidation with the Naval Legion of the United States, a smaller society recently organized with similar aims. This merger was soon ratified under the name NAVAL ORDER of the UNITED STATES. The first Congress of the Naval Order was held on 15 August 1893 in Faneuil Hall. The General Commandery of the
Order was formed at this meeting, and the constitution adopted with provision for local commanderies in the various states and “members” becoming “Companions.” One of the noteworthy early companions, not a naval officer himself, was Loyall Farragut, son of the famous David. Loyall was cabin boy in the admiral’s flagship, USS Hartford, at Mobile Bay during the Civil War when his father gave the historic order “Damn the torpedoes…(mines) full speed ahead!” Another illustrious companion was Captain George Dewey, who was destined to gain international fame at Manila Bay and become the only officer to hold the rank of “Admiral of the Navy.” Dewey later served as Commander General of the Naval Order, 1907 to 1917.
Historical records in the archives of the various states attest to the efforts of individual companions in the establishment and training of Naval Militia in the Eastern and Midwestern states during the 1890’s. As a result, trained and ready Naval Militiamen were available to our nation to answer the call to the colors at the
outbreak of the Spanish-American War.
Companion Herbert Livingston Saterlee, having observed the operation of the civilian Navy League in England, recognized the value of civilians not directly affiliated with the U.S. Navy, but dedicated to its support. The Naval Order through his efforts and guidance, and with the concurrent encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt, became the prime mover in organizing the Navy League of the United States, which was chartered in New York in 1902. Saterlee became Commander General of the Naval Order in 1925.
Today the Naval Order of the United States continues to encourage research and writing on naval and maritime subjects, preserve documents, portraits and other records of prominent figures, deeds and memories of our naval and maritime history, and through fellowship of our members, advance the Naval Order’s unselfish service and worthy aims for the security and enduring well-being of our country. For those interested in membership/participation in the many activities of the Naval Order of the United States visit our website at: https://www.navalorder.org/.
Classic Sail 2024 Wall Calendar
$15.95Classic Sail features sail boats ranging from traditional working vessels and cruising sailboats, to exciting 15 Meter Class contenders of the past. Kathy Mansfield, whose work is found in nautical magazines, including WoodenBoat, Classic Boat, and Water Craft, brings together American and European boats in this very enjoyable pan-Atlantic collection of classic sail.
This 2024 monthly wall calendar features: Large blocks for notes | Superb printing quality | Heavy 100-pound paper | Deluxe 11- by 14-inch size
Sailboats featured in this edition include:
≈ The 50’ Kismet was built in the Fife yard in Scotland in 1898 but later spent five decades in the mud in the east of England. After a four year restoration she is racing keenly in British and French regattas. She has a larch hull, mahogany topsides and interior, and oak and iroko frames.
≈ The 67’ yawl Black Watch was built at the famous Nevins Boatyard in 1938, designed by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens. She is double planked of cedar and mahogany with white oak frames, and still wins many races as here at the Castine Classics Regatta, followed by the Camden and Eggemoggin Reach Regattas.
≈ Dorothy is a 33’ Thames rater designed in 1894 by Linton Hope, built of teak planking on oak frames. She has a waterline length of 22’, narrow beam of 7’7” and draft of 3’11”. She sails here in the British Classic Yacht Regatta at Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England.
≈ Shenandoah of Sark is a steel 180’ three masted schooner that has circumnavigated the world many times, travelled 500 miles up the Amazon, explored the Niger and Congo rivers, and here sails at the Voiles de St Tropez in France. She was designed by Theodore Ferris, the only one of his designs still sailing, and built near Staten Island at the Townsend & Downey yard.
≈ Saskia is an 8 Meter class boat designed and built by William Fife in 1930. She won many regattas during her long life in Britain, another 50 years in Australia, and more recently back in Britain.
≈ Eleanora is a 162’ replica of the famous Herreshoff 1910 schooner Westward, built at the van de Graff shipyard in the Netherlands in 2000. Sadly she was sunk in 2022 by an offshore supply vessel in Port Tarragona, Spain when its engines got stuck in reverse. She has now been lifted and is being restored.
≈ Designed by Clinton Crane in 1937, Gleam is built of mahogany and cedar planking on oak for his own personal yacht. She was influential in the development of the 12 Meter Class, eventually becoming the America’s Cup class in 1958. Gleam has been well maintained throughout her life and here sails under new ownership at the Castine Classics Regatta in Maine.
≈ Bijou II is a 30 Square Meter class boat designed by Knut Reimers and built in Bodensee, Germany. She’s lean and low, 40’9” long but just 29’ on the waterline and with a beam of only 7’. She’s wet but she’s fast!
≈ This 45’ Sparkman & Stephens ketch, Mermaid, was launched in 1957 at Paul Luke & Sons in East Boothbay, Maine. She’s rather like a cruising version of an Olin Stephens New York 32, strongly built with a double planked hull, mahogany over cedar.
≈ These two P Class gaff sloops have been restored by John Anderson in Maine and are sailing in the Mediterranean regattas. Corinthian was designed by Nat Herreshoof in 1911 and Olympian was designed by William Gardner in 1913
≈ Scud is a Bar Harbor 31, one of 13 sloops built by Herreshoff in 1903 and recently restored by Federico Nardi at the Argentario boatyard in Italy. These yachts are double planked with diagonal bronze strapping
≈ The 94’ Sumurun was designed and built by William Fife in 1914, originally a gaff rigged yawl but later converted to a Bermudan ketch. Her hull is teak above the waterline, elm below on oak frames with a teak deck. Based for many years in Maine, she is now sailing in Mediterranean regattas.
≈ Tuiga was designed by William Fife in 1909, 92’ long with a beam of 14’, the first of the new 15 Meter class which were favoured by the most prominent sailors of the time. She is the flagship of the Yacht Club of Monaco and one of four 15 Metres still sailing, a magnificent sight.
Published by Tide-mark Press © 2023