Beardslee, L.A.

He was the Commanding Officer of the Alaska Department June 14, 1879 to September 12, 1889. The 40th Congress (1867-1869) passed a law which made Alaska a customs district of the U. S. but made no other efforts to establish the civil infrastructure that President Johnson had hinted at. The relations between settlers and natives of Alaska were tense and the Navy forces of Commander L. A. Beardslee were called upon to maintain order.

From 1879-1884, the Navy governed Alaska, as most of its inhabitants were located in the coastal southeastern "panhandle" of the state. The passage of the First Organic Act (1884) made Alaska a civil and judicial district and provided the territory with judges, clerks, and marshals. Curiously enough, the general legal code of the state of Oregon was adopted. A total of thirteen officials were made responsible for a population of 32,000 people, of which only 430 were white settlers.

He was appointed as a Ensign USN.

He was appointed as a Lieutenant USN.

He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander USN.

He was a Commander USN.

He was appointed as a Captain USN.