James Douglas Jerrold Kelley

Background

James Douglas Jerrold Kelley, the great-grand-nephew of Commodore John Barry, was born on December 25, 1847 in New York City, New York, United States, the son of Manus and Annie (Barry) Kelley.

Education

Kelley graduated from Seton Hall College, New Jersey, and entered the Naval Academy October 5, 1864, the last midshipman appointed by President Lincoln. At the Academy he was an excellent student, graduating fifth in his class, an organizer of the first baseball team, and author, then or somewhat later, of the naval song "God Bless Sweethearts and Wives. " As described by a classmate, "Jimmy" was "lively as quicksilver, " full of witty sayings, with an Irish command of language and a wit sometimes biting, "a competent naval officer but always more of a literary man than an executive one. "

Career

Kelley was on the European station, 1868-1870; in the Pacific, 1870-1872; and during the next twenty five years on many routine sea and shore assignments, rising to lieutenant, 1872, lieutenant commander, 1893, and commander, 1899. During the Spanish-American War he was member and for a time chairman of the Board on Auxiliary Vessels. He commanded the Resolute in the West Indies, October-December 1899, and was inspector of merchant vessels in New York from June 1900 until his retirement for incapacity incident to service, April 1, 1901.

Kelley started his career as a writer with the book Question of Ships, published in 1884. He produced several volumes elaborately illustrated with water-color plates by F. S. Cozzens, notably American Yachts; Their Clubs and Races (1884), Typical American Yachts (1886), and Our Navy (1892). The prose part of these books is not mere hack-work, but is marked, like Kelley's other writing, by finish of style and unusual historical accuracy.

After his retirement he was editor of naval news for the New York Herald, becoming a member of the board of control and later one of the three managing directors until the sale of the paper to Munsey in 1920. He was also greatly interested in wireless telegraphy, was a director in the original Marconi Company, and was in charge of the erection of the first station at Nantucket. During the World War he returned to active duty, serving as censor of wireless and in the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Achievements

• James D. J. Kelley was recognized for his service as a commander during his military assignments at the various European stations and during the Spanish-American War. He received the distinction as a writer for an essay on the revival of the merchant marine, expanded as The Question of Ships (1884). For his work, he was awarded the gold medal of the United States Naval Institute in 1882.

Works

More photos

• book

  • American Yachts: Their Clubs and Races

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • The ship's company and other sea people

    (This book was digitized and reprinted from the collection...)

  • A desperate chance: a story of land and sea

    (This book was digitized and reprinted from the collection...)

  • The Question of Ships: The Navy and the Merchant Marine (1884)

    (Originally published in 1884. This volume from the Cornel...)

  • The Story of the Barbary Corsairs
  • THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND NAVY - OUR COUNTRY'S DEFENSIVE FORCES IN WAR AND PEACE

Membership

Kelley was for many years member of the New York Yacht Club, and one of its fleet-commanders.

Interests

• Kelley was an enthusiastic yachtsman.

Connections

Kelley married Isabel dePuga Morrell, daughter of Thomas Morrell of New York on February 9, 1884. They had three daughters.

Father:

Manus Kelley

Mother:

Annie (Barry) Kelley

Spouse:

Isabel dePuga Morrell

Great granduncle :

John Barry

References

• James Douglas Jerrold Kelley, Commander, U.S. Navy: Pioneer in radio, expert on navies : born December 25, 1847, died April 30, 1922