U.S. Naval government of Guam begins under Admiral Richard P. Leary

Background. Guam was captured by the United States in June 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Spain formally ceded the island to the U.S. in April 1899 under the Treaty of Paris. Prior to this, President William McKinley had already placed Guam under the administration of the United States Department of the Navy in December 1898 for military protection and government purposes.

Governance Flux. Between the initial American capture of Guam and the installation of a formal Naval Governor in August 1899, there was a period of flux in the governance of the island. This interim period preceded the establishment of the provisional military government under the Department of the Navy, which lasted until the territory was organized in 1950.

Administrative Setup. The Naval Government of Guam was established as a provisional military government. It operated under the administration of the United States Department of the Navy. The transition from the initial capture to formal naval governance involved the placement of the island under Navy control by Executive Order, setting the stage for the appointment of the first Naval Governor.