Leahy, William D.

William Daniel Leahy (1875-1959) was a naval officer, and Chief of Naval Operations from January 2, 1937 to August 1, 1939.

From the description of Leahy, William D. (William Daniel), 1875-1959 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10581512

Fleet admiral; Chief of Staff.

From the description of Letter, Washington, D.C., to Colonel [Pendleton] Hogan, Washington, D.C., 1947 December 1. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 122482139

From the description of Letter, Washington, D.C., to Colonel [Pendleton] Hogan, Washington, D.C., 1947 December 1. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 32958440

William D. Leahy, Fleet Admiral and CNO, 1937-1939, was an 1897 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. From 1942-1949, he was Chief of Staff to Presidents F.D. Roosevelt and Harry S Truman.

From the description of Speech, [n.d.] (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 741354726

From the description of Memorandum, January 7, 1937. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 727776088

William Daniel Leahy was born in Hampton, Iowa on May 6, 1875. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1897 and was assigned to the battleship USS Oregon. He later had duty on the Asiatic Station and as an instructor at the Naval Academy. From 1912 to 1915 he had duty in various shore establishments before taking command of the gunboat Dolphin. During World War I, he commanded a troop transport and served as Director of Gunnery Exercises. He left this assignment in 1921 to assume command of USS St. Louis with the Naval Detachment in Turkish Waters. He was Chief of the Bureau of Navigation from 1933 until 1935, and in 1937 became Chief of Naval Operations. In 1939 he was transferred to the retired list, but in June 1942 was recalled to active duty as Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the United States Army and Navy. Promoted to Fleet Admiral in December 1944, he continued to serve in an advisory capacity until his death on July 20, 1959.

From the description of Papers, 1938-1959. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 51608959

Naval officer, diplomat, and governor of Puerto Rico. Full name: William Daniel Leahy. Born 1875; died 1959.

From the description of William D. Leahy papers, 1897-1959 (bulk 1935-1959). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980148

William D. Leahy, 1875-1959, was an 1897 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was chief of the Bureau of Navigation and Ordnance between the wars. From 1937 to 1939, he was CNO.

From the description of Photograph, December 27, 1944. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 46386384

From the description of Letter, April 10, 1937. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 730450453

From the description of Letter, March 14, 1943. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 17974662

From the description of Letter, June 7, 1943. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 18178376

Biographical Note

• 1875, May 6: Born, Hampton, Iowa
• 1897: Graduated, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
• 1898: Served in Spanish-American War
• 1899: Commissioned ensign, United States Navy
• 1904: Married Louise Tennent Harrington
• 1912: Chief of staff, Nicaraguan occupation
• 1918: Commissioned captain, United States Navy
• 1927 - 1931 : Chief, Bureau of Ordnance
• 1930: Commissioned read admiral
• 1931 - 1933 : Commander, Destroyers Scouting Force
• 1933 - 1935 : Chief, Bureau of Navigation
• 1935 - 1937 : As vice-admiral (1935-1936) and admiral (1936-1937) commanded battleships of the Battle Force
• 1937 - 1939 : Chief, Naval Operations
• 1939: Retired from United States Navy Appointed governor of Puerto Rico
• 1940 - 1942 : Ambassador to France
• 1942 - 1949 : Chief of staff to the commander-in-chief of the United States Army and Navy
• 1944: Appointed fleet admiral, United States Navy
• 1950: Published I Was There. New York: Whittlessey House
• 1950 - 1959 : President, Naval Historical Foundation
• 1959, July 20: Died, Bethesda, Md.

From the guide to the William D. Leahy Papers, 1897-1959, (bulk 1935-1959), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)