Evening star., 1932-02-29
REAR ADMIRAL CHESTER. AT SO,
CELEBRATES 22D BIRTHDAY
Second Oldest Graduate of
Naval Academy Still Has
WanderIust.
His Intimate Friendship With
Late Sultan of Turkey
Is Recalled.

Rear Admiral Colby Mitchell Chester,
u S. N, retired, who makes his home
here at 1923 I street, is celebrating his
22d birthday anniversary today, although
he was born in 1844-on February 90
At present. the admiral is visiting his
son, Arthur Chester, in Rye, N. Y, and
is recalling outstanding aspects of his
career-his participation in the battle
of Mobile Bay on August 5. 1864; his
intimate friendship with the late Sultan
of Turkey and the oil concessions there
that bear his name, and his mathe-
matical genius that is credited with dis
counting the North Pole claims of DR.
Frederick A. Cook. He is the second
oldest graduate of the Naval Academy.
Still Has Wanderlust.
Even at his advanced age, the admiral
still has the wanderlust of youth and
he rarely stays more than a couple of
months in any one place. The years
are beginning to tell upon him, too, his
friends say, but he retains the alertness
of mind that marked him as one of the
most distinguished of the Navy
officers.
Admiral Chester, a native of New
London, Conn, was placed on the re-
tired list of the Navy after Al years
active duty, which took him to all parts
of the world. He left the service in
1906, officially, but was given special
assignment in the Bureau OF Equipment
at the Navy Department until 1903
when he was appointed delegate to
the Ninth International Congress OF
Geography at Geneva.
During the World War, when 73 years
old, he was recalled to active duty and
served as commandant of the naval
unit at Yale University and organized
naval units at Brown University and at
Columbia.
During the Civil War, as a young
sailor he took an active part in the
bombardment and capture of Fort Nor
gan on August %, 1864, and aided in
paving the way for the capture of Mo-
bile. Following that war he served on
ships of the South Pacific Station and
then went to the Asiatic.
Thanked by Britain.
In the Summer of 1875 Admiral
Chester served as executive officer OF
the frigate Constellation, used as prac-
tice ship at the Naval Academy. He
received the thanks of the British gov
ernment for his assistance in salvag1ng
the steamer Historian, and the owners
of that vessel presented silver set to
the officers of his ship, the U. S. S.
Galena.
Admiral Chester served in the Bureau
of Navigation here in 1889 and from
April, 1891, to 1894, served at the Naval
Academy, commanding the ConStella-
ton, and then became commandant OF
midshipmen. In the Spanish-American
War, he commanded the cruiser Gin
cinnati and later was the skipper OF the
U. S. S. Kentucky
In November, 1902, he came back to
Washington, this time as superin-
tendent of the Naval Observatory, and
while at that post was advanced to the
grade of rear admiral. He commanded
a special squadron in the Mediter-
ranean to witness the total eclipse Of
the sun in June, 1905, and then Wis
tied the observatories of European
countries.
In recalling today that Admiral Ches-
ter is the second Oldest graduate Of the
Naval Academy, Navy officials said
Rear Admiral Benjamin Franklin Day
of Buena Vista, Va, is the Oldest living
graduate Admiral Chester graduated
from the Naval Academy in 1853, while
Admiral Day graduated a year earlier.