Edward Wilson Very (October 26, 1847 – March 1, 1910) was an American naval officer who adopted and popularized a single-shot breech-loading snub-nosed

flare gun A flare gun, also known as a Very pistol or signal pistol, is a large-bore handgun that discharges flares, blanks and smoke. The flare gun is typically used to produce a distress signal. Types The most common type of flare gun is a Very (s ...

that fired

flare A flare, also sometimes called a fusée, fusee, or bengala in some Latin-speaking countries, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a bright light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for distress signaling, illumination, ...

s that bear his name ( Very lights). During his naval career he captained a gunboat off the shores of Japan, held positions in engineering, naval

ordnance Ordnance may refer to: Military and defense *Materiel in military logistics, including weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and maintenance tools and equipment. **The military branch responsible for supplying and developing these items, e.g., the Unit ...

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

and signal staff postings and saw

diplomatic service Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel obtains diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to o ...

with the U.S. Legation in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

Early life and education

Very was born in

Belfast, Maine Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 6,938. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River estuary on Belfast Bay and Penobscot Bay. Belfast is the county seat of W ...

, and, at the age of , was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy from the

Washington Territory The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington. It was created from the ...

. His was the first appointment ever issued from that territory. He entered the Academy in February 1863, he was granted a leave of absence in June 1864 for active service during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

. During this time, he served first on the at Dutch Gap on the James River, from June 7, 1864, until the end of July 1864. He was then transferred to the steamer , where he participated in the blockade of

Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in and the county seat of New Hanover County in coastal southeastern North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 at the 2020 census, it is the eighth most populous city in the state. Wilmington is t ...

. He returned to the Academy that October to complete his studies, graduating on June 7, 1867.

Military career

Following graduation, Very served his first midshipman tour briefly on the . He then saw service with the

Asiatic Squadron The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century. It was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded. Vessels of the squadron were primarily inv ...

aboard the from September 1867 to July 1868, and then on the . In January 1869, he received his commission as an

ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

and was ordered to the in May. In August, he was ordered to the , where he received his Masters commission in December. In February 1870, he received orders to the . In December 1870, he received orders to service with the

European Squadron The European Squadron, also known as the European Station, was a part of the United States Navy in the late 19th century and the early 1900s. The squadron was originally named the Mediterranean Squadron and renamed following the American Civil Wa ...

, serving brief tours on the and . In May 1871, he was transferred to the , remaining with the squadron until 1874. He was promoted to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

in September 1871. During his time in Europe, he witnessed

Marshal MacMahon Marie Edme Patrice Maurice de MacMahon, marquis de MacMahon, duc de Magenta (; 13 June 1808 – 17 October 1893) was a French general and politician, with the distinction of Marshal of France. He served as Chief of State of France from 1873 to ...

's march into Paris to quell the

Paris Commune The Paris Commune (french: Commune de Paris, ) was a revolutionary government that seized power in Paris, the capital of France, from 18 March to 28 May 1871. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, the French National Guard had defended ...

. In February 1874, he was ordered to ordnance duty at the

Washington Navy Yard The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and Weapon, ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast, Washington, D.C., Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy. The Yard currently serv ...

. He served four months with the Panama Interoceanic Canal Survey from December 1874 until returning to the Ordnance Bureau in mid-April 1875. In June, he received orders to the Navy's Torpedo Station, where he eventually commanded the experimental battery there. From January 9 to February 14, 1878, he served on the , when he was ordered to special ordnance duty in Europe. Beginning in February 1878, he was in charge of naval ordnance matters placing him with top European military and armaments officials while in Paris until 1881. After serving on the

Naval Advisory Board The Naval Consulting Board, also known as the Naval Advisory Board (a name used in the 1880s for two previous committees), was a US Navy organization established in 1915 by Josephus Daniels, the Secretary of the Navy at the suggestion of Thomas ...

from 1881 to 1883, Very was assigned to special duties abroad. He resigned from the U.S. Navy, effective April 30, 1885, and took positions at the Hotchkiss Company and later at the American Ordnance Company.

Personal life

Very married Margaret Freeman Zeilin, the daughter of

Jacob Zeilin Jacob Zeilin (July 16, 1806 – November 18, 1880) was the United States Marine Corps' first non- brevet flag officer. He served as the seventh commandant of the United States Marine Corps, from 1864 to 1876. Early life and education Zeilin was ...

, the seventh Commandant of the Marine Corps. He died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severi ...

in 1910 in New York City.

Publications

* * * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Very, Edward Wilson 1847 births 1910 deaths United States Navy officers United States Naval Academy alumni Union Navy officers Deaths from pneumonia in New York City People from Belfast, Maine Burials at Arlington National Cemetery