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George Blakely

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George Blakely
Born(1870-07-05)July 5, 1870
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 16, 1965(1965-11-16) (aged 95)
San Francisco, California
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1892–1924
RankBrigadier General
Battles/warsWorld War I

George Blakely (July 5, 1870 – November 16, 1965) was an army officer and an American Brigadier general active during World War I.[1]

Early life and family

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Blakely was born on July 5, 1870 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Central High School there.[2][3] In 1892, he graduated number four of sixty-two from the United States Military Academy.[4] His younger brother, Charles School Blakely, was also a graduate of the United States Military Academy and later a general. Another brother, John Russell Young Blakely, was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and later an admiral. Their parents were John Blakely, a journalist, and Mary Anne (Young) Blakely. Their uncles were John Russell Young and James Rankin Young.[5][6]

Career

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Upon graduation, Blakely was commissioned in the Second Artillery Brigade and graduated from the Artillery School in 1896. From 1898 to 1901, and again from 1903 to 1908, he was an assistant professor of mathematics at the United States Military Academy. He served in the Coast Artillery but was later detailed to the Inspector General's Department. On August 2, 1917, Blakely was promoted to brigadier general, commanding the 61st Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Worth, Texas. From September 18, 1917, until December 5 of the same year, he temporarily commanded the 36th Division.[1] From July to October 1918, he commanded the South Atlantic Coast Artillery District. From October 1918 to February 1919, Blakely was sent to France as commanding general of the 38th Artillery Brigade. After the war, he commanded the North Pacific Coast Artillery District.

Blakely retired on May 6, 1924 as a colonel. His rank of brigadier general was restored by act of Congress in June 1930.[4][7]

Later life

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After retirement, Blakely lived in San Francisco, California. He died at the age of ninety-five on November 16, 1965 at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco.[4][8] Blakely was interred at Golden Gate National Cemetery three days later.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Marquis Who's Who, Inc. Who Was Who in American History, the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. p. 51. ISBN 0837932017 OCLC 657162692
  2. ^ Hamersly, Lewis R. (1904). Who's Who in Pennsylvania. New York, New York: L. R. Hamersly Company. p. 62. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  3. ^ Edmonds, Franklin Spencer (1902). History of the Central High School of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J. B. Lippincott Company. p. 369. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  4. ^ a b c Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. Generals in Khaki. Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press, 1998. p. 40. ISBN 1571970886 OCLC 231779136
  5. ^ Young, I. Gilbert (1869). Fragmentary Records of the Youngs, Comprising, In Addition to Much General Information Respecting Them, A Particular and Extended Account of the Posterity of Ninian Young, An Early Resident of East Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pa. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: William S. Young. p. 45. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  6. ^ "Mrs. Mary A. Blakely Dead.: Elder Sister of John Russell and Congressman James Rankin Young". The Washington Post. February 9, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  7. ^ Official Army and Air Force Register. Vol. II. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1948. p. 2084. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  8. ^ "Gen. George Blakely". Oakland Tribune. Vol. 179, no. 323. November 19, 1965. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  9. ^ "George Blakely Blakely". Veterans Legacy Memorial. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved 2024-10-04.

Bibliography

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