GEORGE ALBERT CONVERSE
CONVERSE, GEORGE ALBERT, naval officer, is a native of one of the smaller states, who for more than forty years as an officer of the navy has served his country with fidelity and honor, and has also laid it under obligations by the exercise of his inventive genius.
He was born at Norwich, Windsor county, Vermont, May 13, 1844. His parents were Shubael Converse 2d and Luvia Elizabeth (Morrill) Converse. He was married December 4, 1871, to Laura Shelby Blood.
Shubael Converse was a physician, a man of great kindness of heart, helpful to all with whom he came in contact. He was a public spirited citizen and served as representative and later as senator in the Vermont legislature. The family in this country traces its descent from Edward Converse. One of its members. Major James Converse, built (1640) the first house erected in Woburn, Massachusetts.
George Albert Converse passed most of his early life in a village. He was not as strong as are most boys of his age. His principal recreation consisted in printing and publishing a small newspaper. There were no unusual difficulties to be overcome by him in obtaining an education. He studied in the public schools of the village, at Norwich university, and later at the United States naval academy (which was then at Newport, Rhode Island), from which he was graduated in 1865, having stood at the head of his class for three successive years. He began naval service as midshipman in the United States navy in 1865. He served on the U. S. S. Canandaigua, European station, until 1869. He has risen by successive steps to the rank of rear admiral. From 1892 to 1896 he was in charge of the torpedo station. During the Spanish war he commanded, 1890-91 the Montgomery and in 1901-03 the battleship Illinois. In 1903 he became the chief of the Bureau of Equipment, and March 15, 1904, chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. In 1877 he invented an
