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130 er's Harbor Island, Rhode Island, December, 1880. He also drafted the original bill now known as the "Marine School Act," which provided for transforming into floating school-ships to be used by the several states, certain of the war vessels of the navy of obsolete type. Youths were to be instructed here "in navigation, seamanship, marine enginery, etc.," under naval officers detailed to act as superintendents and instructors. He commanded the Hartford, flagship of the North Atlantic squadron in November, 1875; was inspector of training ships 1877-78; was in command of the Minnesota and of the United States naval training squadron, 1878-84. As acting rear-admiral he was ordered to the command of the North Atlantic squadron, July 26, 1884; and he was made president of the United States Naval war college, of which he was the originator and founder, Coaster's Harbor Island, Rhode Island, September 20, 1884. His promotion to rear-admiral followed, October 5, 1885; he was in command of the naval forces of the North Atlantic station up to the time he was retired, by time limit, March 25, 1889. He was appointed commissioner general to the Columbian Historical exposition at Madrid in 1892. On this occasion the Queen of Spain conferred on him the Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit.

Rear-Admiral Luce is a member of the Metropolitan club, Washington, District of Columbia, and of the Army and Navy club, New York. His service has been rendered to "his country without regard to political parties." He went to sea from preference, and with the consent of his parents. The Protestant Episcopal church is the church of his choice. His publications are: "Seamanship" (1863), which, for thirty years, was used as a text-book at the United States naval academy; "Naval Songs" (1902); "The Patriotic and Naval Songster." He was naval editor of the Standard Dictionary, and associate editor of Johnson's Universal Cyclopedia. He says to young Americans that "With, or without the advantages of school or college training, it is only by self culture and the ever present consciousness of the Divinity that is within us, that it is possible to attain success in life."

He was married December 7, 1854, to Eliza, daughter of Commodore John Dandridge Henley, United States navy. They had three children living in 1905.