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Gideon Welles (July 1, 1802 – February 11, 1878), nicknamed "Father Neptune", was the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869, a cabinet post he was awarded after supporting Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election.
Gideon Welles (born July 1, 1802, Glastonbury, Conn., U.S.—died Feb. 11, 1878, Hartford, Conn.) was the U.S. secretary of the navy under presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. Born into a wealthy family, Welles was educated at private schools.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about Gideon Welles, the Union Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War, who expanded and modernized the US Navy. Read his diaries, political career, and views on slavery and Lincoln.
Learn how Gideon Welles, a political appointee with eccentric appearance and blunt personality, became a skilled and influential Navy Secretary during the Civil War. He oversaw the expansion, innovation, and deployment of the Union fleet, despite criticism and challenges.
Mar 7, 2021 · Learn about the life and achievements of Gideon Welles, a Connecticut-born politician and journalist who led the Union Navy during the Civil War. He was a loyal and effective cabinet member who supported President Lincoln and helped shape the Navy’s modernization and expansion.
May 11, 2018 · Gideon Welles was a Union cabinet member who served as secretary of the navy during the Civil War. He wrote a diary that recorded the events of the war and the assassination of President Lincoln.
Aug 22, 2019 · Explore the major events in the life of Gideon Welles (1802-1878), a newspaper editor and U.S. secretary of the navy in the Lincoln and Johnson administrations. Learn about his political affiliations, family, publications, and naval reforms.
