Other Historic Figures

Military and Naval Leaders and Heroes


  • ARM NAME BLAZON COMMENTS
  • Alexander, Maj Gen William, Lord Stirling (New York, 1726-Albany, 1783) Graphic

    Alexander, Maj Gen William, Lord Stirling (New York, 1726-Albany, 1783)

    Quarterly, 1st and 4th Per pale Argent and Sable a chevron and in base a crescent all counterchanged; 2nd and 3rd Or a lymphad Sable sails furled and flags flying between three cross crosslets fitchy Gules (for Clan Allaster)

    Arms on his bookplate. Unsuccessful claimant to the Scottish earldom of Stirling, but consistently accorded the title by his American contemporaries.

  • Biddle, Captain Nicholas (Philadelphia, 1750-At Sea, 1778)[[ Graphic

    1. Biddle, Captain Nicholas (Philadelphia, 1750-At Sea, 1778)[[<<]]2.Biddle, Commodore James (Philadelphia, 1783-1848)

    Argent three double brackets Sable

    1. One of the original five captains of the Continental Navy.[[<<2. Congressional gold medal for capture of HMS Penguin as commander of USS Hornet, 1815; nephew of Capt Nicholas Biddle.

  • Bulkeley, VAdm John Duncan (New York, 1911-Silver Spring, Md, 1996) Graphic

    Bulkeley, VAdm John Duncan (New York, 1911-Silver Spring, Md, 1996)

    Sable a chevron between three bulls' heads caboshed Argent armed Or

    Medal of Honor, 1942, for actions as commander of a PT boat squadron in Philippine waters; Navy Cross and two Distinguished Service Crosses. Arms registered by NEHGS to his 6th great-grandfather, Rev Peter Bulkeley of Concord, Mass (1582-1658), who used them on a seal.

  • Dahlgren, RAdm John Adolphus Bernard (Philadelphia, 1809-Washington, 1870) Graphic

    Dahlgren, RAdm John Adolphus Bernard (Philadelphia, 1809-Washington, 1870)

    Azure a plant with three blossoms growing from a pot Argent in dexter chief the sun in splendor issuant Or

    Known as the "father of American naval ordnance." Arms on the bookplate of his son, John Vinton Dahlgren.

  • Decatur, Commodore Stephen, Jr. (Sinepuxent, Md, 1779-Washington, 1820) Graphic

    Decatur, Commodore Stephen, Jr. (Sinepuxent, Md, 1779-Washington, 1820)

    Azure in chief a fusil Argent charged with four roundels Azure and in base a heraldic tyger's head erased close Argent

    Thanks of Congress and sword of honor for action at Tripoli, 1804; Congressional gold medal for War of 1812. Arms on two silver oval plates originally engraved for his father, Capt Stephen Decatur, Sr.

  • Du Pont, RAdm Samuel Francis (Bayonne, N.J., 1803-Philadelphia, 1865) Graphic

    Du Pont, RAdm Samuel Francis (Bayonne, N.J., 1803-Philadelphia, 1865)

    Azure upon a terrace Vert a column Argent

    Commander of South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in the Civil War. Arms registered by the NEHGS to his grandfather, Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, who immigrated to the United States in 1799.

  • Eisenhower, Gen of the Army Dwight David (Denison, Tex, 1890-Washington, 1969) Graphic

    Eisenhower, Gen of the Army Dwight David (Denison, Tex, 1890-Washington, 1969)

    Or an anvil Azure

    Supreme Allied Commander Europe during World War II; 34th President of the United States. Arms assumed in connection with knighthood in the Danish Order of the Elephant; see our [[President.Eisenhower">article on his arms for further details.

  • Farragut, Adm David Glasgow (Campbell’s Station, Tenn, 1801-Portsmouth, N.H., 1870) Graphic

    Farragut, Adm David Glasgow (Campbell's Station, Tenn, 1801-Portsmouth, N.H., 1870)

    Gules a horseshoe heels upward enclosing a horseshoe nail palewise Or

    Arms of his 13th century ancestor Pere Ferragut, presented to the admiral at Ciudadela, Minorca, in 1867; engraved on his silver. Also depicted with the heels down and the nail's point upward.

  • Foote, RAdm Andrew Hull (New Haven, 1806-New York, 1863) Graphic

    Foote, RAdm Andrew Hull (New Haven, 1806-New York, 1863)

    Argent a chevron and in dexter chief a trefoil slipped Sable

    Commander, Western Gunboat Flotilla, 1861-62; thanks of Congress for distinguished service at Ft Henry, Ft Donelson, and Island No 10 (1862). Arms registered by NEHGS to his 4th great-grandfather, Nathaniel Foote, who immigrated to Massachusetts in about 1630.

  • Ghormley, VAdm Robert Lee (Portland, Ore, 1883-Bethesda, Md, 1958) Graphic

    Ghormley, VAdm Robert Lee (Portland, Ore, 1883-Bethesda, Md, 1958)

    Or three martlets Gules

    Naval force commander, Battle of Guadalcanal, 1942. Arms in a genealogy compiled by his son, Cmdr Robert Lee Ghormley, Jr.

  • Greene, Maj Gen Nathanael (Warwick, R.I., 1742-Chatham Co, Ga, 1786) Graphic

    Greene, Maj Gen Nathanael (Warwick, R.I., 1742-Chatham Co, Ga, 1786)

    Azure three stags trippant Or

    Commander of American forces in the southern theater during the Revolutionary War; Congressional gold medal for Battle of Eutaw Springs, S.C., 1781. Great-great-grandson of Deputy Governor John Greene of Rhode Island, who used these arms on his seal.

  • Howard, Col John Eager (Belvedere, Baltimore Co, Md, 1752-1827) Graphic

    Howard, Col John Eager (Belvedere, Baltimore Co, Md, 1752-1827)

    Gules on a bend between six cross crosslets fitchy Argent an escutcheon Or charged with a demi-lion rampant pierced through the mouth with an arrow within a double tressure flory-counterflory Gules

    Congressional silver medal for leading the decisive charge at Cowpens, 1781. Later a U.S. senator and 5th governor of Maryland. The arms, which appear on his father's tombstone and were on his grandfather's seal, are those of the Howard Dukes of Norfolk; the Maryland Howards entitlement to them is disputed.

  • Jones, Capt John Paul (Kirkcudbright, Scot, 1747-Paris, 1792) Graphic

    Jones, Capt John Paul (Kirkcudbright, Scot, 1747-Paris, 1792)

    Quarterly, 1st and 4th Gules a stag statant Or; 2nd and 3rd Ermine on a fess Azure three cross-crosslets Argent (Paul)

    Arms assumed by him and used on a bookplate, a painting, and several seals. Preeminent U.S. frigate commander; Congressional gold medal for capture of HMS Serapis, 1779.

  • Lee, Maj Gen Henry (Dumfries, Va, 1756-Cumberland Island, Ga, 1818)[[ Graphic

    1. Lee, Maj Gen Henry (Dumfries, Va, 1756-Cumberland Island, Ga, 1818)[[<<]]2. Lee, Gen Robert Edward (Stratford Hall, Westmoreland Co, Va, 1807-Lexington, Va, 1870)

    Gules a fess checky Or and Azure between ten billets, 4 in chief, 3, 2, 1 in base, Argent

    1. Nicknamed "Light Horse Harry;" gold medal from Congress for action at Paulus Hook, N.J., 1779[[<<2. Commanding general, Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Son of Maj Gen Henry Lee.

  • Montgomery, Maj Gen Richard (Swords, Ire, 1738-Quebec, 1775) Graphic

    Montgomery, Maj Gen Richard (Swords, Ire, 1738-Quebec, 1775)

    Gules two ring-spears in saltire between three fleurs-de-lis in chief and flanks and three annulets in base Or stoned Azure

    Commander of the invasion of Canada; killed at the Battle of Quebec. Arms matriculated to Montgomerie of Hessilheid in Lyon Register, 1672-77.

  • Powell, Gen Colin Luther (b. New York, 1937) Graphic

    Powell, Gen Colin Luther (b. New York, 1937)

    Azure two swords in saltire points downward between four stars, on a chief Argent a lion passant Gules

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1989-93; Secretary of State, 2001-05. Presidential Medal of Freedom (twice), Congressional gold medal for 1st Iraq War, 1991. Arms granted by Lord Lyon King of Arms, 2004.

  • Preble, Commodore Edward (Portland, Me, 1761-1807) Graphic

    Preble, Commodore Edward (Portland, Me, 1761-1807)

    Gules on a pale Or between four lions' heads erased Argent three fusils Sable

    Congressional gold medal for Tripoli, 1804. Arms on a bookplate belonging to his nephew, RAdm George Henry Preble

  • Roosevelt, Col Theodore (New York, 1858-Oyster Bay, N.Y., 1919)[[ Graphic

    1. Roosevelt, Col Theodore (New York, 1858-Oyster Bay, N.Y., 1919)[[<<]]2. Roosevelt, Brig Gen Theodore, Jr. (Cove Neck, N.Y., 1887-Normandy, France, 1944)

    Argent upon a grassy mound a rose bush proper bearing three roses Gules barbed and seeded proper

    1. Medal of Honor (2001) for leading the charge of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry ("Rough Riders") up San Juan Hill, 1898. Later 26th President of the United States; see our [[President.Roosevelt">article on his arms.[[<<2. Son of Theodore Roosevelt, #1. Medal of Honor for leading the assault on Utah Beach, Normandy, 6 June 1944. Arms carved on his memorial stone at Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, N.Y.

  • Scott, Lt Gen Winfield (Dinwiddie Co, Va, 1786-West Point, N.Y., 1866) Graphic

    Scott, Lt Gen Winfield (Dinwiddie Co, Va, 1786-West Point, N.Y., 1866)

    Or on a bend Azure an estoile between two crescents Or in chief a spear palewise proper

    Commanding General of the Army, 1841-1861; Congressional gold medals for battles of Chippewa and Niagara (War of 1812) and Mexican campaign, 1847. Arms on his bookplate.

  • Sherman, Gen William Tecumseh (Lancaster, Ohio, 1820-New York, 1891) Graphic

    Sherman, Gen William Tecumseh (Lancaster, Ohio, 1820-New York, 1891)

    Or a lion rampant Sable between three oak leaves Vert

    Commander, Army of the Tennessee, during the Civil War; later Commanding General of the U.S. Army. Arms registered by the NEHGS to his 5th great-grandfather, Edmund Sherman, who immigrated to Connecticut ca 1635

  • Stockton, Commodore Robert Field (Princeton, N.J., 1795-1866) Graphic

    Stockton, Commodore Robert Field (Princeton, N.J., 1795-1866)

    Or a chevron Vair between three mullets Gules

    Commander of the Pacific Squadron during the Mexican War. Arms on the bookplate of his grandfather, Richard Stockton, signer of the Declaration of Independence

  • Washington, Gen George (Pope’s Creek, Westmoreland Co, Va, 1732-Mount Vernon, Va, 1799) Graphic

    Washington, Gen George (Pope's Creek, Westmoreland Co, Va, 1732-Mount Vernon, Va, 1799)

    Argent two bars in chief three mullets Gules

    Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, 1775-83; 1st President of the United States. See our [[President.Washington">article on his arms for more details.

  • Wayne, Maj Gen Anthony (Easttown, Pa, 1745-Ft Presque Isle, Pa, 1796) Graphic

    Wayne, Maj Gen Anthony (Easttown, Pa, 1745-Ft Presque Isle, Pa, 1796)

    Gules a chevron Ermine between three gauntlets Or

    Congressional gold medal for the capture of Stony Point, N.Y., 1779; defeated the Shawnees at Fallen Timbers, 1794. The arms appear on his seal ring.