Mrs. Eddy Mentioned Them September 8, 1956 Issue

George Dewey, 1837–1917

[Mentioned in Christian Science versus Pantheism, p. 14]

"I had been practically unknown to the general public. In a day my name was on everyone's lips. The dash of our squadron into an Oriental bay 7000 miles from home had the glamour of romance." While Dewey's words were true in a sense, nevertheless, from the time he was commissioned a lieutenant at Annapolis, he had steadily built up a reputation for courage and dependability.

In the Civil War, Dewey served under Farragut at the battle of New Orleans. In this and in three other major engagements he displayed such bravery and judgment that an official report to Washington referred to his coolness as executive officer. He also served in the occupying force in New Orleans.

After the war, Dewey's service was varied. It included three tours of duty in European waters; service at Annapolis and at the naval torpedo station at Newport. He made surveys of the waters along the lower coast of California (the geodetic charts made the are still in use). While stationed at La Paz, Dewey, in response to an appeal from an American manager of a silver mine in Mexico, demanded that the local governor send Mexican troops to the Americans' aid. Troops were sent, for in the meantime Dewey had moved his ship so that it commanded the main street and the custom house. A New York newspaper headlined this incident: "The right man in the right place." His sea experience was broadened by knowledge gained as secretary of the Lighthouse Board in Washington, chief of the Equipment Bureau of the Navy, and president of the Board of Inspection and Survey.

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