Anthony was the fourth Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and the only one ever fired. Fewer records survive concerning him than any other Commandant but it is known that he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on September 2, 1798. Thereafter he fought, in fairly quick succession, the French, the Barbary pirates, the British, and one of his Navy mess-mates. As a young Marine officer serving in the Ganges, he had been struck by a Navy junior officer whom he "called out" and shot. The action was received as honorable by then-Commandant William Burrows. This encounter, involving an affront to the Corps, brought about the naval officer's sudden demise and Commandant Burrows' approval of Gale's defense of his Corps' honor. Unfortunately for Gale, increasing rank brought other difficulties not resolved so directly. In 1815, while commanding at Philadelphia, he fell out with then Commandant Franklin Wharton over the construction of barracks. A court of inquiry cleared him, but he was banished to a less desirable post, where he nursed a feeling of persecution and resumed drinking.
Following the death of Commandant Wharton in 1818 the position was filled in an acting capacity by Adjutant and Inspector, Brevet Major Samuel Miller, and then by Brevet Major Archibald Henderson. As a consequence of these and other alleged shortcomings, Captain Gale, although next senior at the time of Wharton's death, had to battle for the job. Captain Archibald Henderson, second in line, was characteristically blunt in assessing Gale's qualifications, or lack of them, to the Secretary of the Navy. After a court of inquiry exonerated him, Captain Gale, with 21 years of service, became Lieutenant Colonel Commandant on March 3, 1819. By then, the Corps had been without a leader for six months.
Soon after came troubles with Navy Secretary Smith Thompson, who frequently countermanded LtCol Gale's orders in a humiliating manner. Finally, Gale courageously submitted a letter analyzing the proper division of function between himself and the Secretary, and respectfully pointed out the impossibility of his position. He paralleled this official reaction to infringements of his authority by unofficial retreats to alcohol. Three weeks later on September 18, 1820, he was under arrest, charged with conduct unbecoming an officer. The specifications included, "being intoxicated in common dram shops and other places of low repute." He pleaded not guilty by reason of temporary insanity but was found guilty and sentenced to dismissal from the service. By October 8, 1820, the court had found him guilty, President James Monroe approved the verdict, and Gale was removed from office and the Marine Corps. From Washington, Gale went first to Philadelphia where he spent several months in hospitals, then took up residence in Stanford Kentucky. Armed with proof that he had been under the strain of temporary mental derangement while Commandant, he spent 15 years attempting to have his court-martial decision reversed. Eventually, in 1835, the government partially cleared him and awarded him a stipend of $15 a month which was later increased to $25 and continued until his death in 1843 in Stanford, Kentucky. He also remains the only Marine Corps Commandant for whom no likeness exists.
From Major Jim Geiser
Pls add:
His father was Anthony Gale (1747-1782).
His mother was Anne Delany (1747-??).
Following the death of Commandant Wharton in 1818 the position was filled in an acting capacity by Adjutant and Inspector, Brevet Major Samuel Miller, and then by Brevet Major Archibald Henderson. As a consequence of these and other alleged shortcomings, Captain Gale, although next senior at the time of Wharton's death, had to battle for the job. Captain Archibald Henderson, second in line, was characteristically blunt in assessing Gale's qualifications, or lack of them, to the Secretary of the Navy. After a court of inquiry exonerated him, Captain Gale, with 21 years of service, became Lieutenant Colonel Commandant on March 3, 1819. By then, the Corps had been without a leader for six months.
Soon after came troubles with Navy Secretary Smith Thompson, who frequently countermanded LtCol Gale's orders in a humiliating manner. Finally, Gale courageously submitted a letter analyzing the proper division of function between himself and the Secretary, and respectfully pointed out the impossibility of his position. He paralleled this official reaction to infringements of his authority by unofficial retreats to alcohol. Three weeks later on September 18, 1820, he was under arrest, charged with conduct unbecoming an officer. The specifications included, "being intoxicated in common dram shops and other places of low repute." He pleaded not guilty by reason of temporary insanity but was found guilty and sentenced to dismissal from the service. By October 8, 1820, the court had found him guilty, President James Monroe approved the verdict, and Gale was removed from office and the Marine Corps. From Washington, Gale went first to Philadelphia where he spent several months in hospitals, then took up residence in Stanford Kentucky. Armed with proof that he had been under the strain of temporary mental derangement while Commandant, he spent 15 years attempting to have his court-martial decision reversed. Eventually, in 1835, the government partially cleared him and awarded him a stipend of $15 a month which was later increased to $25 and continued until his death in 1843 in Stanford, Kentucky. He also remains the only Marine Corps Commandant for whom no likeness exists.
From Major Jim Geiser
Pls add:
His father was Anthony Gale (1747-1782).
His mother was Anne Delany (1747-??).
Anthony was the fourth Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and the only one ever fired. Fewer records survive concerning him than any other Commandant but it is known that he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on September 2, 1798. Thereafter he fought, in fairly quick succession, the French, the Barbary pirates, the British, and one of his Navy mess-mates. As a young Marine officer serving in the Ganges, he had been struck by a Navy junior officer whom he "called out" and shot. The action was received as honorable by then-Commandant William Burrows. This encounter, involving an affront to the Corps, brought about the naval officer's sudden demise and Commandant Burrows' approval of Gale's defense of his Corps' honor. Unfortunately for Gale, increasing rank brought other difficulties not resolved so directly. In 1815, while commanding at Philadelphia, he fell out with then Commandant Franklin Wharton over the construction of barracks. A court of inquiry cleared him, but he was banished to a less desirable post, where he nursed a feeling of persecution and resumed drinking.
Following the death of Commandant Wharton in 1818 the position was filled in an acting capacity by Adjutant and Inspector, Brevet Major Samuel Miller, and then by Brevet Major Archibald Henderson. As a consequence of these and other alleged shortcomings, Captain Gale, although next senior at the time of Wharton's death, had to battle for the job. Captain Archibald Henderson, second in line, was characteristically blunt in assessing Gale's qualifications, or lack of them, to the Secretary of the Navy. After a court of inquiry exonerated him, Captain Gale, with 21 years of service, became Lieutenant Colonel Commandant on March 3, 1819. By then, the Corps had been without a leader for six months.
Soon after came troubles with Navy Secretary Smith Thompson, who frequently countermanded LtCol Gale's orders in a humiliating manner. Finally, Gale courageously submitted a letter analyzing the proper division of function between himself and the Secretary, and respectfully pointed out the impossibility of his position. He paralleled this official reaction to infringements of his authority by unofficial retreats to alcohol. Three weeks later on September 18, 1820, he was under arrest, charged with conduct unbecoming an officer. The specifications included, "being intoxicated in common dram shops and other places of low repute." He pleaded not guilty by reason of temporary insanity but was found guilty and sentenced to dismissal from the service. By October 8, 1820, the court had found him guilty, President James Monroe approved the verdict, and Gale was removed from office and the Marine Corps. From Washington, Gale went first to Philadelphia where he spent several months in hospitals, then took up residence in Stanford Kentucky. Armed with proof that he had been under the strain of temporary mental derangement while Commandant, he spent 15 years attempting to have his court-martial decision reversed. Eventually, in 1835, the government partially cleared him and awarded him a stipend of $15 a month which was later increased to $25 and continued until his death in 1843 in Stanford, Kentucky. He also remains the only Marine Corps Commandant for whom no likeness exists.
From Major Jim Geiser
Pls add:
His father was Anthony Gale (1747-1782).
His mother was Anne Delany (1747-??).
Following the death of Commandant Wharton in 1818 the position was filled in an acting capacity by Adjutant and Inspector, Brevet Major Samuel Miller, and then by Brevet Major Archibald Henderson. As a consequence of these and other alleged shortcomings, Captain Gale, although next senior at the time of Wharton's death, had to battle for the job. Captain Archibald Henderson, second in line, was characteristically blunt in assessing Gale's qualifications, or lack of them, to the Secretary of the Navy. After a court of inquiry exonerated him, Captain Gale, with 21 years of service, became Lieutenant Colonel Commandant on March 3, 1819. By then, the Corps had been without a leader for six months.
Soon after came troubles with Navy Secretary Smith Thompson, who frequently countermanded LtCol Gale's orders in a humiliating manner. Finally, Gale courageously submitted a letter analyzing the proper division of function between himself and the Secretary, and respectfully pointed out the impossibility of his position. He paralleled this official reaction to infringements of his authority by unofficial retreats to alcohol. Three weeks later on September 18, 1820, he was under arrest, charged with conduct unbecoming an officer. The specifications included, "being intoxicated in common dram shops and other places of low repute." He pleaded not guilty by reason of temporary insanity but was found guilty and sentenced to dismissal from the service. By October 8, 1820, the court had found him guilty, President James Monroe approved the verdict, and Gale was removed from office and the Marine Corps. From Washington, Gale went first to Philadelphia where he spent several months in hospitals, then took up residence in Stanford Kentucky. Armed with proof that he had been under the strain of temporary mental derangement while Commandant, he spent 15 years attempting to have his court-martial decision reversed. Eventually, in 1835, the government partially cleared him and awarded him a stipend of $15 a month which was later increased to $25 and continued until his death in 1843 in Stanford, Kentucky. He also remains the only Marine Corps Commandant for whom no likeness exists.
From Major Jim Geiser
Pls add:
His father was Anthony Gale (1747-1782).
His mother was Anne Delany (1747-??).
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