Seventeenth Commandant of the Marine Corps. Born in Delaware Aug. 5, 1879 he was named Major General Commandant on Dec. 1, 1936. On Jan. 20, 1942 a new law provided for the Commandant to be a Lieutenant General and provided that the title be “Commandant of the Marine Corps”, dropping the reference to rank. He retired from the Marine Corps on Dec. 31, 1943 and the next day was promoted to General on the retired list the first Marine to hold that rank. He died May 24, 1965. Following his retirement he served as Ambassador to South Africa. (see Tombstone Brigadier General),