George M. Stoney

George Morse Stoney (9 October 1852 – 30 April 1905) was a United States Navy officer and early United States explorer of northwest Alaska.

Biography Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, Stoney was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from Alabama. He was the first South Carolina native to attend the Naval Academy after the American Civil War, entering on 20 September 1870. Stoney did not graduate until 23 September 1875 and was counted as the last member of the Class of 1875 which was graduated on 20 June 1875.

From 1875 to 1877, Stoney served aboard the in the North Atlantic. After a year at sea, he was commissioned as an ensign on 9 October 1876. From 1877 to 1879, Stoney served aboard the in the Pacific Ocean. From 1879 to 1881, Stoney participated in a Pacific survey by the USS Tuscarora. For about two weeks in August–September 1881, he accompanied Master Charles F. Putnam on an exploration of southern Wrangel Island in the Arctic Sea. After the loss of the Rodgers in Saint Lawrence Bay in northeast Siberia, Stoney and other crew members were sheltered by local villagers. Leaving Siberia in May 1882, he returned to San Francisco aboard the USRC Thomas Corwin. Stoney was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on 25 June 1883. Stoney assembled a crew for her consisting of Ensign John L. Purcell, USNA Class of 1879, Dr. Reed, a San Francisco physician serving as ship's apothecary, a gunner's mate and eight Navy seamen. Her cargo included six months of provisions and stores, trade articles for interaction with the Alaskan natives and the 28-foot Navy steam cutter Helena. The USS Ounalaska was commissioned on 18 March 1884 and sailed from San Francisco on 13 April 1884. Both Howard and Zane would later become Navy rear admirals. The 390-ton two-masted schooner Viking was chartered to transport the men, boats and supplies to Alaska. Final authorization for departure was provided by the new Secretary of Navy William C. Whitney on 1 May 1885, and the Viking sailed from San Francisco two days later.

The Explorer and Helena arrived back at Hotham Inlet on 7 July 1886. Stoney and his men then continued to explore the lower Noatak River valley, Selawik Lake and the lower Selawik River valley. The USRC Bear arrived at Kotzebue Sound on 20 July under the command of Captain Healy. Arrangements were made for the Bear to pick up Ensign Howard and his party at Point Barrow on 13 August. The Bear then returned to Kotzebue Sound on 23 August to pick up Stoney and the remainder of his men. With the Helena hoisted onboard and the Explorer taken in tow, the Bear departed on 27 August. She arrived at St. Michael the following day. After the Explorer was sold to a local resident for two thousand dollars, the Bear sailed on 4 September and arrived back in San Francisco on 21 October 1886. In 1900, he assumed command of the hospital ship . In 1902, Stoney was given command of the dispatch vessel .

Suffering from poor health, Stoney returned to the Naval Academy in June 1903 and was given command of the and overall command of all ships at the Naval Academy. He was promoted to commander on 17 June 1904. Stoney died in his cabin aboard the Santee while moored at Annapolis, and his remains were transferred to the receiving vault at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on 2 May 1905. He was later buried in Section 1 of the cemetery.

Legacy Many geographical features in the areas of northwest Alaska explored by Stoney and his men still bear names originally suggested by him.