Leahy, William D. (William Daniel), 1875-1959

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Name Entries *

Leahy, William D. (William Daniel), 1875-1959

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Leahy

Forename :

William D.

NameExpansion :

William Daniel

Date :

1875-1959

eng

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rda

Leahy, William Daniel, 1875-1959

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Leahy

Forename :

William Daniel

Date :

1875-1959

eng

Latn

alternativeForm

rda

Leahy, William, 1875-1959

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Leahy

Forename :

William

Date :

1875-1959

eng

Latn

alternativeForm

rda

Genders

Male

Exist Dates

Exist Dates - Date Range

1875-05-06

May 6, 1875

Birth

1959-07-20

July 20, 1959

Death

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Biographical History

Fleet Admiral William Daniel Leahy (May 6, 1875 – July 20, 1959) was an American naval officer who served as the senior-most United States military officer on active duty during World War II. He held multiple titles and was at the center of all major military decisions the United States made in World War II.

As Chief of Naval Operations from 1937 to 1939, he was the senior officer in the United States Navy, overseeing the preparations for war. After retiring from the Navy, he was appointed in 1939 by his close friend President Franklin D. Roosevelt as Governor of Puerto Rico. In his most controversial role, he served as the United States Ambassador to France 1940–42, but had limited success in keeping the Vichy government free of German control.

Leahy was recalled to active duty as the personal Chief of Staff to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 and served in that position throughout World War II. He chaired the Chiefs of Staff and was a major decision-maker during the war. He continued under President Harry S. Truman until finally retiring in 1949. From 1942 until his retirement in 1949, he was the highest-ranking active duty member of the U.S. military, reporting only to the President. He was the United States' first de facto Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (not his official title) and he also presided over the American delegation to the Combined Chiefs of Staff, when the American and British staffs worked together.

As fleet admiral, Leahy was the first U.S. naval officer ever to hold a five-star rank in the U.S. Armed Forces. USS Leahy (DLG-16) was named in his honor, as is Leahy Hall, the U.S. Naval Academy admissions office.

eng

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External Related CPF

https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n79059350

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10581512

https://viaf.org/viaf/51720067

https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n79059350

https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q729082

Other Entity IDs (Same As)

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Languages Used

eng

Latn

Subjects

Admirals

Admirals

Diplomatic and consular service, American

Diplomatic and consular service, American

National security

Santiago Campaign, 1898

World War, 1939-1945

World War, 1939-1945

World War, 1939-1945

World War, 1939-1945

Nationalities

Americans

Activities

Occupations

Diplomats

Governors

Naval officers

Statesmen

Legal Statuses

Places

Iowa

IA, US

AssociatedPlace

Birth

Bethesda

MD, US

AssociatedPlace

Death

Convention Declarations

<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>

General Contexts

Structure or Genealogies

Mandates

Identity Constellation Identifier(s)

w65823c2

85389343