George Belknap

Who was George Belknap?

Rear Admiral George Eugene Belknap was an officer in the United States Navy. USS Belknap was named for him. He was the father of Rear Admiral Reginald R. Belknap.

Born in Newport, New Hampshire, Belknap was appointed a Midshipman in 1847. He commanded the monitor Canonicus during the attacks on Battle of Fort Fisher, and the sloop-of-war Hartford during the Formosa Expedition of 1867. He was the senior officer present during the riots following David Kalākaua's election to the King of Hawaii in 1874. Appointed Rear Admiral 12 February 1889, he retired 22 January 1894.

Belknap was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, an Original Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and an Honorary Companion of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

He was the father of Rear Admiral Reginald R. Belknap who served as national Commander-in-Chief of MOLLUS from 1947 to 1951.

Rear Admiral Belknap died at Key West, Florida, 7 April 1903.