Frederick Valette McNair (January 13, 1839 – November 28, 1900) was a

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

in the United States Navy. The destroyer is named after him.

Biography

McNail was born in Abington, Pennsylvania. He was appointed

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...

on December 21, 1853, graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1857. He served on the Atlantic blockade stations and Mississippi River patrols during the American Civil War, rising to the rank of

in July 1898. He served as superintendent of the Naval Observatory from June 28, 1890, to November 21, 1894, and Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from 1898 to 1900.

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

McNair died in Washington, D.C., on November 28, 1900, while awaiting orders. He was the father of Frederick V. McNair Jr.; the great-grandfather of tennis star Frederick V. McNair, IV and poet/novelist Lailee McNair.

References

1839 births 1900 deaths Union Navy officers Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Military personnel from Pennsylvania People from Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Superintendents of the United States Naval Academy {{US-navy-bio-stub

Biography

See also

References