United States Naval Officer. An 1864 graduate of the United States Naval Academy (which had temporarily moved to Newport, Rhode Island during the Civil War), he served as an Acting Ensign on board the "USS Oneida" the August 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama. By the time of the Spanish-American War has rose to the rank of Captain, and was in command of the "USS Olympia" during the May 1, 1898 Battle of Manila Bay. The "Olympia" served as American Asiatic Squadron commander Admiral George Dewey's flagship, and at the start of the battle he commanded Captain Gridley to commence his bombardment of Spanish ships with the words "You May Fire When Ready, Gridley". The phrase, widely reported by American newspapers, became a popular catch-phrase of the time. Captain Gridley would die a month later of an illness on board his ship as it was anchored off Kobe, Japan. Four United States Navy ships (DD-92, DD-380, DLG-21, and DDG-101) were named for him.
United States Naval Officer. An 1864 graduate of the United States Naval Academy (which had temporarily moved to Newport, Rhode Island during the Civil War), he served as an Acting Ensign on board the "USS Oneida" the August 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama. By the time of the Spanish-American War has rose to the rank of Captain, and was in command of the "USS Olympia" during the May 1, 1898 Battle of Manila Bay. The "Olympia" served as American Asiatic Squadron commander Admiral George Dewey's flagship, and at the start of the battle he commanded Captain Gridley to commence his bombardment of Spanish ships with the words "You May Fire When Ready, Gridley". The phrase, widely reported by American newspapers, became a popular catch-phrase of the time. Captain Gridley would die a month later of an illness on board his ship as it was anchored off Kobe, Japan. Four United States Navy ships (DD-92, DD-380, DLG-21, and DDG-101) were named for him.
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