Ridley McLean

Rear Admiral Ridley McLean, USN (10 November 1872 – 12 November 1933) was a two-star Admiral in the United States Navy. He was a Naval Academy graduate, the original author of the Navy's Bluejacket's Manual, and Judge Advocate General (JAG). He commanded a battleship in World War I, helped pioneer the naval use of shortwave communication, and led a submarine force and a battleship division.

Ridley McLean
LCDR Ridley McLean c.1912
Born	10 November 1872 Murfreesboro, Tennessee, US
Died	12 November 1933 (aged 61) USS Nevada San Francisco, California, US
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1894–1933
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands held	Judge Advocate General USS Columbia USS New Hampshire USS Nebraska USS Arkansas Director of Naval Communications Battle Force Submarines Battleship Division 3
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Boxer Rebellion World War I
Awards	Navy Cross

Early life

Ridley McLean was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee,[1] to Thornton and Sallie (Ridley) McLean.[2] Thornton, the son of Kentucky Congressman Finis Ewing McLean, was in the banking business in Pulaski. Sallie died on November 22, 1872, just 12 days after giving birth to her only child. Thornton and Ridley soon left for California, lived there for a decade, and returned to Murfreesboro around 1883. Thornton died in 1887, leaving Ridley in the care of his maternal uncle, Army Captain B.L. Ridley, and his wife.

After two years at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Ridley was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by Congressman James D. Richardson. He entered on May 20, 1890, and graduated in 1894.

Military career

Early career

In February 1900, McLean was assigned to the gunboat USS Marietta during the Reyes Rebellion in Nicaragua in February 1900. He was later attached to the staff of Rear Admiral Louis Kempff[3] aboard his flagship, USS Kentucky, on which he participated in Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and the Philippine insurrection during 1901–1902.

In 1902, Lieutenant McLean wrote The Bluejacket's Manual for the United States Naval Institute, a book intended to provide information useful to new recruits and be a reference for every person in Naval service. In 1903, he contributed a chapter titled "Practical Naval Gunnery" to the Text Book of Ordinance and Gunnery.

In 1904, he was assistant to LCDR William Sims, Inspector of target practice; in 1906 was given orders to report to the USS Virginia. This tour would be cut short upon receipt of new orders to the staff of the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry.[4] Lieutenant Commander McLean was on the Admiral's flagship the USS Connecticut on its tour around the world in the Great White Fleet from 1907 to 1909. Following staff duty, McLean became Atlantic Fleet ordnance officer before assuming duties as the Executive Officer aboard the USS Florida.

In 1913, Commander McLean assumed what is normally a Captain billet as Judge Advocate General of the US Navy, a position which entitled him the rank of Captain in title only. He served in this role until December 1916, when he received orders to become Commanding Officer of the USS Columbia through May 1917.

World War I

When World War I broke out, Commander McLean served as Chief of Staff for the Battleship Force 1, Atlantic Fleet under VADM Albert Grant. In 1918, he was chosen to command the USS New Hampshire, escorting allied convoys.

Post-war

His first command tour was cut short when he was assigned to command the USS Nebraska for a year beginning in September 1918.[5] At the same time he was permanently appointed to the rank of Captain. In 1919, he was stationed at the Army War College in Washington D.C.[6]

From June 1922 through April 1924, Captain McLean was CO of the USS Arkansas.[7] He became Director of Naval Communications in July 1924, and pioneered the use of shortwave radio communications when he authorized the experiment on board the USS Seattle on the 1925 cruise of Australia and New Zealand.

He was promoted to rear admiral in 1927 and assigned as Commander of Battleforce Submarines, using the submarine tender USS Holland as his flagship. Rear Admiral McLean fought for submarine sustainability and flexibility to fight long ways from home and for extended periods.

Personal life

In November 1916, Commander McLean married Olive Gale Hill and became stepfather to her two children (Olive Beatrice and Gale) from a previous marriage.[8]

Death

On November 12, 1933, at the age of 61, Rear Admiral McLean, Commander of Battleship Division 3 died suddenly from a heart attack aboard his flagship the USS Nevada, while at anchor in San Francisco Bay. The following day funeral services were held on board the Nevada while the flag-draped coffin of the Rear Admiral lay on the deck. Crews from all 50 warships in San Francisco were summoned to stand at attention during the service. After the service was complete the Nevada steamed through Golden Gate, passing the USS Pennsylvania as she fired a 13-gun salute. His body was later interred at Arlington National Cemetery.[9]

Dates of rank

• Midshipman - 20 May 1890.[3] Graduated class of 1894

Ensign	Lieutenant Junior Grade	Lieutenant	Lieutenant Commander	Commander	Captain
O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6
1894	abt. 1897	1901[3]	abt. 1906	abt. 1913	1919[6]

Rear Admiral (lower half)	Rear Admiral (upper half)
O-7	O-8
1927	1932[10]

Decorations and awards

United States awards

Navy Cross Medal Awarded for actions during the World War I The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Ridley McLean, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. New Hampshire during World War I, and as Chief of Staff of the Commander of Battleship Force 1, Atlantic Fleet. Action Date: World War I Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. New Hampshire

References

1. 1900 US Federal Census. Retrieved on October 20, 2010.
2. Sorley, Merrow Egerton (1935). Lewis of Warner Hall: the history of a family. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co.
3. Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy. United States Bureau of Naval Personnel, United States Navy Dept, United States Bureau of Navigation - 1900
4. "Finding Men For The Navy" Evening Post, New York, January 26, 1907
5. BB-14 USS NEBRASKA NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive
6. Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy. United States Bureau of Naval Personnel, United States Navy Dept, United States Bureau of Navigation - 1922
7. BB-33 USS ARKANSAS NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive
8. Lewis of Warner Hall: the history of a family by Merrow Egerton Sorley
9. Ridley McLean Arlington National Cemetery
10. US Government Accountability Office, A-43444, JULY 25, 1932, 12 COMP. GEN. 108

Further reading

• McLean, R. The Bluejacket's Manual. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1902.
• Faram, Mark D. The Bluejacket's Manual Turns 100. All Hands June 2008.