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First Name: Montgomery

Last Name: Taylor

Birthplace: Washington, DC, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating:

Middle Name: Meigs



Date of Birth: 13 October 1869

Date of Death: 21 October 1952

Rank or Rate: Admiral

Years Served: 1890-1936
Montgomery Meigs Taylor

   
Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1890

Engagements:
•  Spanish-American War (1898)
•  World War I (1914 - 1918)

Biography:

Montgomery Meigs Taylor

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Montgomery Meigs Taylor was born on 13 October 1869 in Washington, DC, to Joseph Hancock and Mary Meigs Taylor. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1890, where he had played halfback on the football team, his first assignment was aboard the USS Baltimore (C-3), receiving his commission as an Ensign in 1892.

During the Spanish-American War, Taylor served as a Battery Commander aboard the USS Olympia (C-6), Admiral George Dewey's flagship, and took part in the Battle of Manila Bay.

Following the war, he was the first commander of the USS Hopkins (DD-6) from 1903-05, followed by command of the 2nd Torpedo Flotilla from 1905-06, and the receiving ship USS Wabash from 1906-08.

He served as Executive Officer of the USS Salem (CL-3) from 1908-09, and the USS Milwaukee (C-21) from 1909-10. He was then given command of the USS Petrel (PG-2) (1910-11), followed by assignment as Aide to Commandant, Navy Yard, New York City from 1911-13. He returned to command on the USS Buffalo from 1913-15, then attended the Naval War College, graduating in 1916, whereupon he was given command of the USS Maine (BB-10). In 1917, he was attached to the Office of Naval Operations at the Navy Department, followed the next year with command of the USS Florida (BB-30), operating with the British Grand Fleet during World War I, for which he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

After the war, he returned to the staff of the Naval War College from 1919-21. He was next assigned as a member of the Naval Examining and Retiring Board, and later that year he was appointed Commander of the Control Force, and as Commander of all Atlantic submarines. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1922. Taylor was Director of Fleet Training for the Navy Department from 1925-27 and afterward commanded the Third Battleship Division of the Battle Fleet. Promoted to Vice Admiral, he was given command of the Scouting Fleet.

He returned to Washington as Chief of the War Plans Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations from 1929 until he became Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet in 1931 with the temporary rank of four-star Admiral. In 1936 he was appointed to serve on the U.S. Maritime Commission.

He retired from the Navy on 1 November 1936. He was advanced to Admiral on the retired list with date of rank 16 Jun 1942, as highest rank held on the active list.

Medals and Awards

His awards and medals included the Dewey Medal, Spanish Campaign Medal, Philippine Campaign Medal, World War I Victory Medal, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Personal

Taylor was the grandnephew of U.S. President Zachary Taylor and a distant cousin of U.S. Army four-star General Montgomery C. Meigs, who served from 1967-2002.

Taylor never married.

Death and Burial

Admiral Montgomery Meigs Taylor died at Bethesda Naval Medical Center of a stroke on 21 October 1952. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 1 among other family members.



Honoree ID: 662   Created by: MHOH

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