Event of 1899: George Dewey is made Admiral of the U.S. Navy.

Background. Admiral of the Navy was the highest possible rank in the United States Navy prior to 1944. It is considered equivalent to a five-star admiral. The rank was created by Congress in 1899, with the specific intent of honoring George Dewey for his victory at Manila Bay in 1898. This rank has only been awarded once in history.

Legislative Discrepancy. Congress authorized the appointment of an Admiral of the Navy in 1899. However, President McKinley's nomination used the term 'Admiral in the Navy,' which differed from the act's 'Admiral of the Navy.' This discrepancy was addressed in 1903 when President Roosevelt nominated Dewey to the correct grade, retroactive to March 2, 1899.

Uniform Regulations. In May 1899, the US Navy Uniform Regulations specified the sleeve insignia for admiral as two strips of 2-inch gold lace with one 1-inch strip between. In 1905, the title 'Admiral of the Navy' was used for this description. The collar and shoulder insignia featured four silver stars with gold foul anchors under the outermost stars.