William D. Leahy
United States admiral
Died when: 84 years 75 days (1010 months)Star Sign: Taurus
William Daniel Leahy (/ˈleɪhiˌ ˈleɪ.i/) (May 6, 1875 – July 20, 1959) was an American naval officer who served as the most senior United States military officer on active duty during World War II.
He held multiple titles and was at the center of all major military decisions of the U.S. during World War II.
As fleet admiral, Leahy was the first U.S. naval officer ever to hold a five-star rank in the U.S.
Armed Forces.He has been described by historian Phillips O'Brien as the "second most powerful man in the world" for his influence over U.S. foreign and military policy throughout the war.
An 1897 graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, Leahy saw service in the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, Boxer Rebellion in China, the Banana Wars and World War I.
As Chief of Naval Operations from 1937 to 1939, he was the senior officer in the United States Navy, overseeing the preparations for war.
After retiring from the Navy, he was appointed in 1939 by his close friend President Franklin D.Roosevelt as the governor of Puerto Rico.
In his most controversial role, he served as the U.S.Ambassador to France from 1940 to 1942, but had limited success in keeping the Vichy government free of German control.
Leahy was recalled to active duty as the personal Chief of Staff to President Roosevelt in 1942 and served in that position through the rest of World War II.
He was the first de facto Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and presided over the American delegation to the Combined Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. and Great Britain.
Leahy was a major decision-maker during the war and was second only to the President in authority and influence.He served Roosevelt's successor Harry S.
Truman, helping shape U.S. postwar foreign policy until finally retiring in 1949.From 1942 until his retirement, Leahy was the highest-ranking active-duty member of the U.S. military, reporting only to the President.
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