William Butler Remey was born in 1842, in Burlington, Iowa, to Eliza Smith (née Howland) and William Butler Remey.[1][2][3] His father was captain of a steamboat in Burlington.[4] He had two brothers, George C. Remey, who served in the Navy, and John T. Remey, president of the National State Bank in Burlington.[2]
Career
Remey became a captain of a Burlington militia company known as the Zouave Light Guards, who organized in 1861. In 1861, Remey was appointed by Senator Grimes as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. From 1862 to 1863, he served on USS Sabine, a sailing frigate.[1] He was promoted to first lieutenant around 1864 and served in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard from 1864 to 1865.[5] He served on the USS North Carolina in 1865 and USS Vanderbilt from 1865 to 1867 and the USS New Hampshire in 1868. In 1869, he worked at the Marine Barracks in Philadelphia and as an instructor in army signals in Washington, D.C., between 1869 and 1870. He remained on duty at headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 1870 to 1871.[1][5][6] In 1873, he was commissioned captain and took over command of the USS Colorado, serving there from 1873 to 1875. In 1875, he was detailed as fleet marine officer of the South Pacific Station. In 1876, he was assigned fleet marine officer of the North Atlantic Station.[1][5]
In 1877, Remey was assigned to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard where he remained until 1880. On June 9, 1880, he was made colonel and the first Judge Advocate General of the Navy. He served in this role until his retirement on June 9, 1892, after reports of ill health surfaced.[1][5][6][7]
