NO ONE CAN FIND ANTHONY GALE: THE ONLY MARINE LEADER COURT-MARTIALED
Military history is often packed to the brim with a variety of heroism, strategic maneuvering, stark cause and effect, and tense geopolitics. These are the usual suspects, but when it comes to Anthony Gale, he was anything but usual. Working his way up the ranks to Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Irish immigrant was one of our nation’s first official Marines. Yet, he would be court-martialed, have his reputation sullied, and frankly, become patently unmemorable. Anthony Gale's Marine Corps career had a prominent rise and a far-from-ideal fall. Related read: Air Force Maj Gen William Cooley Retires After Receiving Demotion
Why Was Anthony Gale Court-Martialed?
Shortly after Anthony Gale took the reigns in 1819, things didn't go as smoothly as one might have hoped. There was friction with military leadership, and Gale submitted an official letter questioning the division of functions between himself and the Secretary of the Navy, Smith Thompson, expressing the impossibility of his position to Thompson himself. Allegedly, he began drinking heavily during this time. Shortly after his letter, Gale was informed that Thompson had granted leave to a Marine Captain and suspended Gale's order. The damage was done. Two weeks later, Gale was arrested and faced a court-martial. Gale faced multiple charges involving public intoxication, behavior unbecoming of a gentleman, visiting a brothel, threats, and even signing a false certificate. In all fairness, Gale's legal proceedings were surrounded by many red flags, and frankly, the situation seemed anything but fair. Not only was the prosecutor a known rival but a witness testifying against Gale was also a member of the court. Unsurprisingly, Anthony Gale was found guilty, approved by President Monroe, and dismissed from the Marine Corps on October 18, 1820. He is the only Commandant of the Marine Corps in the history of the branch to have undergone such consequences. Gale was replaced by Archibald Henderson, who would serve as commandant for 39 years. Suggested read: The Real Story of Team Lioness That Inspired Taylor Sheridan's New Spy Thriller
Rising Through the Ranks
Although we don't have much information on Anthony Gale's USMC career, what we do know is that he was involved in various conflicts. This includes the following:
- Gale was a part of the American forces taking on pirates and France throughout the Caribbean during the Quasi-War.
- You can also find Gale’s service through the First Barbary War.
- The War of 1812 also had Gale’s involvement where he laid siege on Fort McHenry.
- Technically, one could argue that he even took on America itself at one point, considering Anthony Gale dueled Navy Lieutenant Allen MacKenzie. He ended up killing the man.
Make no doubt about it, there were other disputes and conflicts that came to be, but when the Marines needed a leader, Gale had quite the resume and was the man for the job, until he wasn’t.
Anthony Gale Died in Relative Obscurity
After being ousted from the Marines, Gale would spend time in the hospital. He called Philadelphia his home while dealing with medical issues, but this was temporary as he would move to Stanford, Kentucky to set his roots. After fifteen years, Gale’s court-martial was reversed after his persistent efforts paid off. This would provide him with benefits for the rest of his life as he proved mental health issues caused his ill-advised actions and manifested due to the stress of the position. On December 12, 1842, Gale died. Or was it the same date a year later? There’s a bit of uncertainty there. Additionally, despite multiple searches, nobody knows the location of his final resting place. The issue of finding his remains is exacerbated by the fact that records of his duty and life are simply not in abundance. It's not currently known for certain when Anthony Gale was born, when he died, or where he's buried. It’s believed, however, that Gale is likely somewhere in Stanford, Kentucky and a memorial wreath has been laid annually by the Marine Corps League, Department of Kentucky on November 10, the branch's birthday, in remembrance. Anthony Gale may not be the exact model to follow for a military career, but it’s clear that mental health is an important aspect of serving that continues to command our attention. Regardless of his actions, Gale answered the call and served to help our country go forth and grow during its early stages. Read next: The Final Released Documents from JFK's Assassination