At Manila Bay in 1898, which USS Olympia captain heard Dewey say, 'You may fire when ready, Gridley'?

At Manila Bay in 1898, USS Olympia captain Charles Vernon Gridley heard George Dewey say, “You may fire when ready, Gridley.”

Gridley commanded Dewey’s flagship, the protected cruiser USS Olympia, during the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. As the American squadron closed on the Spanish fleet near Cavite, Dewey turned to Gridley and gave the order that became one of the most famous quotations in U.S. naval history.

Gridley directed Olympia’s guns from the ship’s armored conning tower. The vessel’s opening fire helped begin the destruction of the Spanish Pacific Squadron, which was defeated decisively that morning. The battle established American naval dominance in the Philippines and accelerated Spain’s defeat in the war.

Gridley was already seriously ill, suffering from dysentery and what was likely liver cancer. His health deteriorated after the battle, and he died in Kobe, Japan, on June 5, 1898, while being transported home. The quotation is often shortened slightly, but “Gridley” refers to Charles Vernon Gridley, not Dewey.