About George Calnan
Lived 1900 – 1933 (aged 33). George Calnan was an American fencer, military officer and aircraft pilot.
George Charles Calnan (January 18, 1900 – April 4, 1933) was a United States Navy officer who also competed for the United States as a fencer. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he earned three bronze medals (Individual épée: 1928, Team foil: 1932, Team épée: 1932)
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Calnan did not start fencing until he was a student at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. By the time he was a senior, he was captain of the Navy's fencing team. Two years later, Calnan competed for the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris where he finished tied for fifth in the team épée competition. Calnan took the Olympic Oath at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Calnan was among the 73 fatalities of the USS Akron crash in 1933. He had a lieutenant's rank at the time of the crash.
He was posthumously inducted in the US Fencing Hall of Fame in 1963, among the first inductees. He is also the namesake of the George C. Calnan Memorial Trophy, which is given to the three-weapon championship team.
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Important facts
People in George Calnan's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped George Calnan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was George Calnan?
US navy officer and fencer (1900–1933)
When was George Calnan born?
George Calnan was born on 18 January 1900 in South Boston.
When did George Calnan die?
George Calnan died on 4 April 1933 in Barnegat Township.
What was George Calnan's occupation?
George Calnan was a fencer, military officer and aircraft pilot.
What nationality was George Calnan?
George Calnan was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George Calnan. https://biography.guide/george-calnan/
MLA: "George Calnan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-calnan/.
Chicago: "George Calnan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-calnan/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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