George F. Elliott
Encyclopedia
George Frank Elliott was a United States Marine Corps
major general
. He was the tenth Commandant of the Marine Corps
between 1903 and 1910.
, Alabama
, was appointed to the United States Military Academy
in 1868 and was honorably discharged in June 1870 upon the completion of a two-year course there. In October 1870, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps by the President
of the United States
. Second Lieutenant Elliott served at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
, from the time of his appointment to the Marine Corps until 1871, when he was transferred to Portsmouth
, New Hampshire
. He later served on the Vermont
, the Frolic, and the Monongahela
, and was on duty at the Marine Barracks at Norfolk
, Virginia
, in 1877 when a battalion of Marines was ordered to that post from Washington, D.C. during the strike of railway employees. He was in command of the detachment that guarded the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
tunnel
and also acted as guard for the paymaster of the railroad. He returned to Norfolk upon detachment from that duty. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1878.
In 1880, 1stLt Elliott was ordered to duty on board the Alliance
and served at the Marine Barracks, Boston, Massachusetts
, from 1882 to 1884, when he returned to Norfolk. He was with the Marine battalion sent to the Isthmus of Panama
in 1885. He was promoted to captain in 1892.
In 1894, he was attached to the as Fleet Marine Officer when that ship was sent to China
to guard American interests during the war between Japan
and China. He and his men made a forced march to Seoul
, a distance of 31 miles (49.9 km), part of which was through submerged rice fields, in eleven hours.
In June 1895, Captain Elliott was sent to the Marine Barracks, Brooklyn
, New York
, and from 22 April to 22 September 1898, he was on duty with the Marine Battalion of the North Atlantic Fleet. The Fleet was sent to hold its position at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
.
On 14 July 1898, he was in command of Companies C and D, composed of 150 Marines and 50 Cubans, which were ordered to destroy the well at Cuzco, about six miles (10 km) from Guantanamo, and the only water supply of the Spaniards within twelve miles (19 km). Two and a half miles from Cuzco, half of the Cubans and the first platoon of Company C passed over a mountain to the left, hoping to cut off the Spanish pickets. In this they failed, and the main force was discovered by the Spanish outpost, which retreated immediately and gave the alarm to the main body, whose headquarters were in a house at Cuzco. A high mountain separated the two forces at this point and each attempted to gain its crest as a point of vantage. The Marines were successful, but were fired on heavily by the enemy from the valley. Following a straggling retreat by the Spaniards, the Marines began the return march, the well having been destroyed. For his eminent and conspicuous conduct in this engagement, Capt Elliott was advanced three numbers in his grade.
In October 1898, he was detached from Brooklyn’s rolls and ordered to the Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. He was promoted to Major (United States)
in March 1899.
In August 1899, Major Elliott was ordered to command the Second Battalion of Marines for duty in the Philippines
and was promoted to lieutenant colonel
in September of that year. From October 1899 to January 1900, LtCol Elliott commanded the First Brigade of Marines in the Philippines. During this period he engaged in the Battle of Novaleta.
On his return to the United States he was on duty at Norfolk until 1903, when he was given command of the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., and promoted to colonel
in March 1903.
On 3 October 1903, he was appointed Brigadier General
Commandant of the Marine Corps, relieving Major General Charles Heywood
. In December 1903, he was ordered to command a Provisional Brigade of Marines organized for service in Panama
. He departed on 27, December with the Brigade on board the , arriving at Colón
on 3 January 1904, and went into camp at Haute Obispo, Panama. He relinquished command of the Brigade on 15 February 1904, and resumed his duties at Headquarters Marine Corps on the 25th of the same month.
On 21 May 1908, he was appointed Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps. One of the most difficult endeavors of Maj. Gen. Elliott's career was his successful resistance to attempts to remove seagoing Marines from capital ships and to merge the Corps into the Army
. Also during his tenure the home post of the Corps, Marine Barracks, 8th and I Streets, Washington, underwent major changes. In 1903, the old barracks were condemned and pulled down and by 1910 had been rebuilt essentially in their present form. He was placed on the retired list on 30 November 1910 upon reaching the statutory retirement age.
Major General Elliott died at his home in Washington, D.C., shortly after noon 4 November 1931 after a brief illness. His remains were interred in the Arlington National Cemetery
.
, a Heywood-class transport (1918–1942), was named in honor of Maj Gen Elliott. The ship was sunk off Guadalcanal
in 1942.
USS George F. Elliott (AP-105)
– Commissioned: 23 September 1943; Decommissioned: 10 June 1946
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
. He was the tenth Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
between 1903 and 1910.
Biography
George Elliott, born in EutawEutaw, Alabama
Eutaw is a city in Greene County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,878. The city is the county seat of Greene County and was named in honor of the Battle of Eutaw Springs, the last engagement of the American Revolutionary War in the Carolinas...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, was appointed to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1868 and was honorably discharged in June 1870 upon the completion of a two-year course there. In October 1870, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps by the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Second Lieutenant Elliott served at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, from the time of his appointment to the Marine Corps until 1871, when he was transferred to Portsmouth
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. He later served on the Vermont
USS Vermont (1848)
USS Vermont was originally intended to be a ship of the line for the U.S. Navy when laid down in 1818, but was not commissioned until 1862, when she was too outdated to be used as anything but a stores and receiving ship....
, the Frolic, and the Monongahela
USS Monongahela (1862)
USS Monongahela was a barkentine–rigged screw sloop-of-war that served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Her task was to participate in the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America...
, and was on duty at the Marine Barracks at Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, in 1877 when a battalion of Marines was ordered to that post from Washington, D.C. during the strike of railway employees. He was in command of the detachment that guarded the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
and also acted as guard for the paymaster of the railroad. He returned to Norfolk upon detachment from that duty. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1878.
In 1880, 1stLt Elliott was ordered to duty on board the Alliance
USS Alliance (1877)
The second USS Alliance was a screw gunboat that was in service from 1877-1911 with the United States Navy.Laid down as Huron, a screw gunboat of the third rate, in 1873 at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Alliance was launched on 8 March 1875. She was sponsored by Miss Eulalie Boush, whose father, Naval...
and served at the Marine Barracks, Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, from 1882 to 1884, when he returned to Norfolk. He was with the Marine battalion sent to the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
in 1885. He was promoted to captain in 1892.
In 1894, he was attached to the as Fleet Marine Officer when that ship was sent to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to guard American interests during the war between Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and China. He and his men made a forced march to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, a distance of 31 miles (49.9 km), part of which was through submerged rice fields, in eleven hours.
In June 1895, Captain Elliott was sent to the Marine Barracks, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and from 22 April to 22 September 1898, he was on duty with the Marine Battalion of the North Atlantic Fleet. The Fleet was sent to hold its position at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
On 14 July 1898, he was in command of Companies C and D, composed of 150 Marines and 50 Cubans, which were ordered to destroy the well at Cuzco, about six miles (10 km) from Guantanamo, and the only water supply of the Spaniards within twelve miles (19 km). Two and a half miles from Cuzco, half of the Cubans and the first platoon of Company C passed over a mountain to the left, hoping to cut off the Spanish pickets. In this they failed, and the main force was discovered by the Spanish outpost, which retreated immediately and gave the alarm to the main body, whose headquarters were in a house at Cuzco. A high mountain separated the two forces at this point and each attempted to gain its crest as a point of vantage. The Marines were successful, but were fired on heavily by the enemy from the valley. Following a straggling retreat by the Spaniards, the Marines began the return march, the well having been destroyed. For his eminent and conspicuous conduct in this engagement, Capt Elliott was advanced three numbers in his grade.
In October 1898, he was detached from Brooklyn’s rolls and ordered to the Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. He was promoted to Major (United States)
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in March 1899.
In August 1899, Major Elliott was ordered to command the Second Battalion of Marines for duty in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and was promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in September of that year. From October 1899 to January 1900, LtCol Elliott commanded the First Brigade of Marines in the Philippines. During this period he engaged in the Battle of Novaleta.
On his return to the United States he was on duty at Norfolk until 1903, when he was given command of the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., and promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in March 1903.
On 3 October 1903, he was appointed Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Commandant of the Marine Corps, relieving Major General Charles Heywood
Charles Heywood
Major General Charles Heywood was the ninth Commandant of the Marine Corps. He served as an officer for over 45 years and was the first Marine to reach the rank of major general...
. In December 1903, he was ordered to command a Provisional Brigade of Marines organized for service in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. He departed on 27, December with the Brigade on board the , arriving at Colón
Colón, Panama
Colón is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city....
on 3 January 1904, and went into camp at Haute Obispo, Panama. He relinquished command of the Brigade on 15 February 1904, and resumed his duties at Headquarters Marine Corps on the 25th of the same month.
On 21 May 1908, he was appointed Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps. One of the most difficult endeavors of Maj. Gen. Elliott's career was his successful resistance to attempts to remove seagoing Marines from capital ships and to merge the Corps into the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Also during his tenure the home post of the Corps, Marine Barracks, 8th and I Streets, Washington, underwent major changes. In 1903, the old barracks were condemned and pulled down and by 1910 had been rebuilt essentially in their present form. He was placed on the retired list on 30 November 1910 upon reaching the statutory retirement age.
Major General Elliott died at his home in Washington, D.C., shortly after noon 4 November 1931 after a brief illness. His remains were interred in the Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Namesake
USS George F. Elliott (AP-13)USS George F. Elliott (AP-13)
USS George F. Elliott was a Heywood-class transport acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I and then reacquired by the Navy for service as a troop carrier during World War II...
, a Heywood-class transport (1918–1942), was named in honor of Maj Gen Elliott. The ship was sunk off Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
in 1942.
USS George F. Elliott (AP-105)
USS George F. Elliott (AP-105)
USS George F. Elliott was a troop transport that served with the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second US Navy ship to bear the name ....
– Commissioned: 23 September 1943; Decommissioned: 10 June 1946