LUCE, Stephen Bleecker, naval officer, born in Albany, New York, 25 March, 1827. He entered the navy as midshipman in 1847, and was commissioned lieutenant in 1855, lieutenant-commander in 1862, commander in 1866, captain in 1872, commodore in 1881, and rear-admiral in 1885. In 1862 he served on the frigate "Wabash," which was attached to the blockading squadron on the coast of South Carolina, participating in the battles of Hatteras Inlet and Port Royal ; and he commanded a howitzer launch during a reconnoissance in force and engagement with the Confederates at Port Royal ferry, South Carolina He commanded the monitor "Nantucket," of the North Atlantic squadron, in October, 1863, engaged Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter several times, and from 1 September, 1864, till 9 June, 1865, commanded the "Pontiac," of the North Atlantic squadron. In January, 1865, he reported to General William T. Sherman at Savannah, Georgia, for duty in connection with the army. With difficulty he got the "Pontiac" up Savannah river as far as Sisters' ferry, about forty miles from the city, and protected the pontoon bridge from the Confederate gun-boats while General Henry W. Slocum's command passed into South Carolina. He was on the steam-sloop "Juniata," of the European squadron, in 1869-'70, was president of the United States naval war college in 1884-'6, and since June, 1886, has been in command of the North Atlantic station. In July, 1887, he issued a circular to American fishermen in regard to the restrictions that were imposed upon foreign fishing-vessels by Canadian laws. Admiral Luce was a founder of the United States naval war college, and was instrumental in the establishment of the United States naval training system. He is now (1887) at the head of the list of rear-admirals on the active list. He has published "Seamanship" (New York, 1863), and edited "Naval Songs" (1883).