American Navy officer (1887–1967)
John Reginald Beardall (February 7, 1887 – January 4, 1967) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. He was superintendent of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, from January 31, 1942, to August 16, 1945. He was a 1908 graduate of the Naval Academy and aide to the Secretary of the Navy, from 1936 to 1939.
Early life.
John R. Beardall was born to Florence (née Bonser) and William Beardall. His father was a city engineer in Sanford, Florida. He attended school there until the family moved to Orlando following the death of his father in 1900. He then attended school in Orlando. He attended Porter Military Academy and later graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1908.
Career.
Beardall served on as part of the Great White Fleet that toured the world in 1908. During World War I, he served on and was a gunnery officer on . He commanded the destroyer and also commanded the destroyer and the cruiser . He served on the cruiser and the cruiser USS "Rochester". Prior to World War II, he was an assistant naval aide to England.
Beardall was aide to Navy Secretary Carl A. Swanson from 1936 to 1939. President Franklin D. Roosevelt selected Beardall as his naval aide while Beardall was commanding USS "Vincennes". He served as naval aide to Roosevelt from May 1941 to January 1942. In September 1941, he was selected by Roosevelt for promotion to rear admiral. He then served as superintendent at the United States Naval Academy from 1942 to 1945. He became commandant of the Fifteenth Naval District and the Panama Sea Frontier. He served in that role until June 1946. He retired on November 1, 1946.
Personal life.
Beardall married Edith Jett McCormick, daughter of A. M. D. McCormick, in February 1917. They had a daughter and two sons, Mrs. Y. Fitzhugh Hardcastle, Geoffrey Bonser and John R. Jr. His brother was Orlando mayor William Beardall. He was a member of the Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C. He was an Episcopalian. After retiring, he lived in Berryville, Virginia. He moved to Winter Park, Florida, in 1958.
Beardall died from a stroke on January 4, 1967, aged 79, in Winter Park. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Awards.
Beardall received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Temple University in 1942 and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1944. He received the William Fremont Blackman Medal for "service to mankind" from Rollins College in 1964.
References.
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