Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/439

 GRIDLEY

GRIDLEY

he was shot in the knee and incapacitated for furtlier active service, and on JIarch 13, 1865, he was brevetted major-general of volunteers for gallantry before Atlanta. He then returned to his native state and practised law at New Albany. He was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for representative in the 39th and 40th congresses against Michael Kerr, in 1864 and 1866; subse- quently supported Mr. Kerr when opposed by a gi-eenbacker and inflationist, and was financial agent at New York, for the state of Indiana, 1867-68. In 1869 President Grant offered liim the coUeotorship of New Orleans, and the district attorneyship of Indiana, both of which appoint- ments he declined, but he accepted from him the appointment as U.S. district judge for In- diana and held the office until April, 1883, wlien President Arthur appointed him postmaster-gen- eral to till the vacancy in his cabinet caused by the deatli of Timothy Otis Howe. On the death of Secretary Folger, Sept. 4, 1884, the President transferred Judge Greshani to the head of treas- ury department. He resigned this portfolio in December, 1884, to accept the appointment of U.S. judge for the .seventh judicial circuit, which position he resigneil, March 3. 1893, on accepting from President Cleveland the cabinet position of secretary of state, which he held at the time of his death. In politics in Indiana, Judge Gresham had been a prominent Republican presidential candidate. He had opposed Benjamin Harrison in the race for senatorial honors in 1880, and when Jlr. Harrison was a candidate in 1888, Gres- ham was also before the convention. "When Harrison was elected Gresham was named by the press as the logical successor to the vacant seat on the supreme bencli, but in a letter to the Chi- cago Herald he positively refused to have his claims pressed. On the tariff question he was always a Henrj^ Clay protectionist, and opposed to the McKinley bill as calculated to encourage trusts. In 1893 he announced his opposition to the Republican platform of that year, refused the nomination of the Peo])le's party for Presi- dent although assured of the support of promi- nent leaders in Indiana and Illinois from both parties, voted for Grover Cleveland, and there- after acted with the Democratic party. He died in "W.-ishitigton, D.C., May 28, ISO.i.

GRIDLEY, Charles Vernon, naval officer, was born in Logausport, Ind, Nov. 24, 1844; son of Frank and Ann Eliza (Slioles) Gridley. His parents removed to Hinsdale, Mich., when he was a child and he received an appointment as cadet to the U.S. naval academy in 1860. On ac- count of the exigencies of the civil war he was ordered into active service with the class in Sep- tember, 1863. On Oct. 1, 1863, he was promoted ensign and ordered to the sloop Oneida of the

West Gulf blockading siiuadron. He participated in the battle of Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864, and his bravery and coolness under action was conspic- uous and received the notice of his superior offi- cers. He was ordered after the close of the war to the Brool-lijn. flag- ship of the Brazilian squadron, and served on that vessel, 1865- 67. He was promoted master in November,

1866, lieutenant in

1867, and lieutenant commander March 13, 1868. He served on board the U.S. steamer 3Iichigan on the Great Lakes, 1870-72; on the Mo- nomjahela, 1873-77; was instructor at the naval academy, 1875- 79; executive ofiicer of the practice ship Con- stellation during the summer cruises of 1877 and 1878; executive officer of the Trenton of the European station, 1879-81; was promoted commander March 10, 1882, and was on duty at the torpedo station. He was chief navigation officer of the Boston navy yard, 1882-84; com- mander of the training ship Jmnestorrn, 1884-86: senior officer of the cruising training squadron from June to November, 1886; inspector of the 10th lighthouse district, Buffalo, N.Y., 1887-91, on special duty at the Washington navy yard, 1891; commanded the 3Ianon, July, 1893, and was again inspector of the 10th lighthouse district, Buffalo, N.Y., 1892-96; commander of the receiving ship

(^/f^zU^^My-)

Bkhmond at League Island, Pa., 1897; was pro- moteii captain, March 14, 1897, and ordered to the Asiatic squadron, and on July 28, 1897, was as- signed to the command of the Objmpia. flagship of Commodore George Dewey commanding the squadron. During the battle of Manila Bay,