Page:Men of Mark in America vol 1.djvu/325

Rh improved form of galvanic battery, and in 1897 made marked improvements in the method of manufacturing smokeless powder.

Admiral Converse received the degree of B.S. from the Norwich (Vermont) university in 1863. He is a member of the Army and Navy club at Washington, District of Columbia. He has never been specially interested in athletics or in any of the popular methods of physical culture. His life has been given to the service of his country; but he has never connected himself with any political party.

His life work was chosen at the beginning of the Civil war, and his choice was governed by a desire to serve his country and to please his father, who encouraged him to enter the naval academy. He owes much to his mother, whose influence upon his intellectual and moral nature was strong and lasting. In estimating their relative importance, the influences which have had a determining effect upon his life and work are placed by him in the following order: Home, school, and private study during his earlier years, and the companionship of his brother officers since his naval service commenced. Experience and observation have convinced him that the best advice he can give the young who desire to succeed in life is that they rigidly adhere to the truth, invariably obey the golden rule, and remember and obey the old maxim, "whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well."