Yates Stirling
1843–1929 (age 86)
Biography
Yates Stirling was born in 1843 and went on to serve the United States Navy through the Civil War and into the early twentieth century, witnessing the service’s transformation from wooden ships to steel fleets. He commanded vessels in distant seas, advocated for the care of sailors, and prioritized the modernization of naval gunnery.
Throughout his long career he remained devoted to the professional education of officers and to the readiness of the fleet, helping set the stage for America’s emergence as a global naval power. His passing in 1929 brought him to Arlington National Cemetery, where he rests among fellow pioneers of the Navy.