Education
Born in New York City, he was educated at the United States Naval Academy, and graduated in 1865.
Born in New York City, he was educated at the United States Naval Academy, and graduated in 1865.
In 1879, backed by James Gordon Bennett, Junior., owner of the New York Herald newspaper, and under the auspices of the United States Navy, Lieutenant Commander De Long sailed from San Francisco, California on the ship United States Ship Jeannette with a plan to find a quick way to the North Pole via the Bering Strait. As well as collecting scientific data and animal specimens, De Long discovered and claimed three islands (De Long Islands) for the United States in the summer of 1881. The ship became trapped in the ice pack in the Chukchi Sea northeast of Wrangel Island in September 1879.
lieutenant drifted in the ice pack in a northwesterly direction until it was crushed in the shifting ice and sank on June 12, 1881 in the East Siberian Sea.
De Long and his crew then traversed the ice pack to try to reach Siberia pulling three small boats. After reaching open water on September 11 they became separated and one boat, commanded by Executive Officer Charles West. Chipp, was lost.
Number trace of it was ever foundation De Long"s own boat reached land, but only two men sent ahead for aid survived.
The third boat, under the command of Chief Engineer Melville, reached the Lena delta and its crew were rescued.
De Long died of starvation near Matvay Hut, Yakutia, Siberia. Melville returned a few months later and found the bodies of De Long and his boat crew. Overall, the doomed voyage took the lives of twenty expedition members, as well as additional men lost during the search operations.
De Long and five of his men are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx section of New York City.
Three United States Navy ships have been named United States Ship DeLong in his honor, as were the De Long Mountains in northwest Alaska. In 1890, the officers and men of the United States Navy dedicated a granite-and-marble monument to the memory of Lieutenant
George Washington De Long and the crew of the United States Ship Jeannette. Lieutenant George Partridge Colvocoresses designed the monument — a cross with carved icicles hanging from it that sits atop a cairn.
The 24-foot (73 m)-high structure is in the United States. Naval Academy Cemetery overlooking the Severn River.
Midshipman, United States Naval Academy - 1 October 1861 Passed Midshipman - 24 September 1865 Ensign - 1 December 1866 Master - 12 March 1868 Lieutenant - 26 March 1869 Lieutenant Commander - 1 November 1879.
