Naval History and Heritage Command

Finding Aid (PDF 115KB)

Biography
James Henry Gillis was born in Ridgeway, PA, on May 14, 1831. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, from the state of Pennsylvania, in 1848.  Gillis graduated in 1854, was commissioned Lieutenant in 1855, eventually reaching the temporary rank of Rear Admiral in October 1888.  He retired with the permanent rank of Commodore in 1893.

Known as the “sailor with a charmed life,” because he never lost a man at sea, RADM Gillis died at Melbourne Beach, FL, on December 6, 1910.

Scope and Content Notes
This Accession consists of ephemera that were part of a larger donation of 3-dimentional objects acquired by the Curator branch, Naval History & Heritage Command.

Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as Papers of James H. Gillis, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington DC.