David Foote Sellers

Admiral, U.S. Navy

David Foote Sellers was born on 4 February 1874 in Austin, TX.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1890 and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from New Mexico. Upon Sellers' graduation from the Academy in 1894, he served in various sea assignments until 1898, including service on the USS Massachusetts, Essex, Alliance, Independence and Philadelphia. During the Spanish-American War, he participated in the Samoan Campaign and the Philippine-American War while serving aboard the New York. From 1904-07 he commanded the USS Stewart. Following his destroyer service, he was assigned shore duty at the Bureau of Navigation, was a Naval Aide to the White House and then served on the staff of the Commander-In-Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet, Rear Admiral William S. Cowles.

In 1914-15, Sellers served as Executive Officer of the battleship USS Arkansas then commanded the cruisers USS Birmingham and USS Salem and the battleship USS Wisconsin in 1917. Following World War I, he served as Naval Aide to Secretary of the Navy Edwin C. Denby. He commanded the battleship USS Maryland during 1922-23.

Sellers was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1927 and served as Commander, Special Service Squadron during the Nicaraguan Uprising. Following his service with the squadron, he served as Judge Advocate General of the Navy from 1929 to 1931. Then Commander, Battleship Division One in 1931-32. In 1932 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and was assigned as Commander, Battleships Battle Force, U.S. Fleet.

He was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral on 10 June 1933 and assigned as Commander-in-Chief U.S. Fleet where he served until 18 June 1934. In 1934, he was reassigned as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in this capacity until his retirement.

He retired 1 March 1938.

Honors

USS Sellers, a guided missile destroyer, was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Admiral David Foote Sellers died on 27 January 1949 in Bethesda, MD. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA in Section 2.