David F. Sellers

David F. Sellers
Born	February 4, 1874 Austin, Texas
Died	January 27, 1949 (aged 74) Bethesda, Maryland
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1894-1938
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	USS Wisconsin (BB-9) USS Maryland (BB-46) U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General United States Fleet U.S. Naval Academy
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War World War I Banana Wars
Awards	Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal

David F. Sellers (February 4, 1874 – January 27, 1949) was an Admiral in the United States Navy.

Biography

Admiral Sellars (left) in the control cabin of the airship USS Macon alongside the ship's commanding officer, Commander Alger H. Dresel.

David Foote Sellers was a native of Austin, Texas. He joined the United States Navy in 1890 and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from New Mexico. Upon Sellers' graduation in 1894 he served in various sea assignments until 1898, including service on the Massachusetts, Essex, Alliance, Independence and Philadelphia. During the Spanish–American War he participated in the Samoan Campaign and the Philippine–American War while serving aboard the New York. From 1904 until 1907 he commanded the Stewart. Following his destroyer service he was assigned shore duty at the Bureau of Navigation, was a Naval Aide to the White House and then served on the staff of the Commander-In-Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet, Rear Admiral William S. Cowles.

During 1914 until 1915 Sellers served as Executive Officer of the battleship Arkansas then commanded the cruisers Birmingham and Salem and the battleship USS Wisconsin in 1917. Following the First World War he served as Naval Aide to Secretary of the Navy Edwin C. Denby. He commanded the battleship USS Maryland from 1922 until 1923.

Sellers was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1927 and served as Commander, Special Service Squadron during the Nicaraguan Uprising. Following his service with the squadron he served as Judge Advocate General of the Navy from 1929 until 1931. Then Commander, Battleship Division One from 1931–1932. In 1932 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and was assigned as Commander, Battleships Battle Force, United States Fleet. He was promoted to Admiral on June 10, 1933 and assigned as Commander-in-Chief United States Fleet and continued to serve until June 18, 1934. In 1934 he was reassigned as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in this capacity until his retirement.

He retired March 1, 1938. He died in 1949.

Namesake

• USS Sellers, a guided missile destroyer, was named in his honor.

References/ Links

• Arlington National Cemetery
• http://www.quarterdeck.org/book/cencoms/sellers.html
• http://www.jag.navy.mil/AboutUs/AboutUs3.htm