George Washington Goethals facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Washington Goethals
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| 1st Governor of Panama Canal Zone | |
| In office 1914–1917 |
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| Succeeded by | Chester Harding |
| State Engineer of New Jersey | |
| In office 1917–1917 |
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| Acting Quartermaster General of the United States Army | |
| In office 1917–1919 |
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| President of George W. Goethals & Co. | |
| In office 1919–1923 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | June 29, 1858 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 21, 1928 (aged 69) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | West Point Cemetery |
| Nationality | Flemish American |
| Spouse |
Effie Rodman
(m. 1884; |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | College of the City of New York United States Military Academy |
| Awards | Public Welfare Medal (1914) Cullum Geographical Medal (1917) John Fritz Medal (1919) |
| Signature |  |
George Washington Goethals (born June 29, 1858 – died January 21, 1928) was an important American Army General and a civil engineer. He is most famous for leading the construction and opening of the Panama Canal. He also served as the State Engineer of New Jersey and the Acting Quartermaster General of the United States Army.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Goethals was born in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were immigrants from Flemish (Belgian) backgrounds. His father, Johannes Baptista Goethals, was a carpenter.
When he was 14, Goethals started college at the College of the City of New York. In 1876, he earned a spot at the United States Military Academy in West Point. He graduated in 1880, ranking second in his class. After graduating, he became a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers.
Military Career Highlights
After West Point, Goethals stayed on as an assistant teacher for a short time. In 1881, he went to the Engineer School of Application. His first field job was in 1882 in Vancouver, Washington. There, he helped with surveys and replaced a 120-foot bridge over the Spokane River.
From 1885 to 1889, he taught engineering at West Point. He then worked on improving navigation on the Cumberland River and Tennessee River. During this time, he also helped tutor Charles Young, who became the third African-American graduate of West Point.
In 1891, Goethals was promoted to captain. He was put in charge of finishing the Muscle Shoals Canal in Alabama. This was his first big independent project. He designed and built the Riverton Lock, which had a record-breaking height of twenty-six feet. His idea was new and faced some opposition, but its success proved him right. This high-lift lock design later inspired similar locks used in the Panama Canal.
During the Spanish–American War, he served as a lieutenant colonel. In 1903, Goethals joined the first Army General Staff in Washington, D.C., where he was an expert on coastal defense.
Building the Panama Canal
Theodore Roosevelt, the US President, believed that a canal across Central America was very important for the country's safety and trade. The United States bought the French company's canal property for $40 million.
At the time, Panama was part of Colombia. Roosevelt tried to make a deal with Colombia, but they refused. So, Roosevelt supported Panamanian rebels who wanted independence. Panama declared independence on November 3, 1903. The US Navy ship USS Nashville helped prevent Colombia from interfering. Panama then gave the United States control of the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million.
United States Takes Over
The United States officially took control of the canal project on May 4, 1904. The work was overseen by the Isthmian Canal Commission (ICC). The US inherited old buildings, equipment, and a small workforce. Much of it was in bad shape from being left in the humid jungle.
The first chief engineer, John Findley Wallace, struggled with too much paperwork and delays from Washington. He resigned in 1905. John Frank Stevens took over and focused on getting the work done faster. He improved the equipment used to dig the Culebra Cut. In 1906, President Roosevelt visited Panama to see the progress, which was the first time a sitting US president traveled outside the country.
Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal
There was a debate about whether private companies or government workers should build the canal. President Roosevelt decided that Army engineers should do the work. In February 1907, President Roosevelt appointed Colonel George Washington Goethals as the chief engineer of the Panama Canal.
Goethals led the massive project. The building of the Canal was finished in 1914, which was two years earlier than planned! Engineers and experts from all over the world praised his work. He received many awards and honorary degrees for his success. In 1914, Goethals was promoted to Major General. President Woodrow Wilson then appointed him as the first Civil Governor of the Panama Canal Zone.
World War I Service
General Goethals left his post as Governor of the Canal Zone in 1916. He then took on several important roles during World War I. He was the State Engineer of New Jersey in 1917. He also briefly managed the Emergency Fleet Corporation, which was in charge of building ships.
Leading Army Logistics
In April 1917, Goethals was asked by President Wilson to help create ships quickly. These ships were needed to carry American soldiers and supplies to France during the war.
When the United States entered World War I, its army was small. After a new law in May 1917, 4 million men were drafted into military service. This created a huge need for supplies and organization. By the summer of 1918, about 2 million US soldiers were in France, with 10,000 more arriving every day.
Because of problems with supplies during the winter of 1917, General Goethals was asked to become the Acting Quartermaster General on December 19, 1917. He agreed, but only if he had full authority.
The Army's supply system had three main issues: not enough skilled people, a disorganized structure, and different departments not working together. Goethals reorganized the Quartermaster Corps. He hired many talented business people and military officers to help. They worked long hours, seven days a week.
Goethals made sure that purchasing was handled centrally under his control. He also worked to standardize record-keeping and supply planning. This helped the Army get the supplies it needed much faster. In April 1918, a new division was created called the Purchase, Storage, & Traffic Division, with Goethals as its director. This meant one person now coordinated all supply efforts, which had previously competed for resources.
In 1919, Goethals asked to leave active service.
Awards and Honors
For his service in World War I, General Goethals received the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal. He was also honored by France with the Commander of the Legion of Honor and by Great Britain with the Honorary Knight Commander. He received many other medals and honorary degrees from universities.
Life After the Military
After retiring from the Army, Goethals led an engineering and construction company. He became the first consulting engineer for the Port of New York Authority. The Goethals Bridge, which connects New York and New Jersey, was named after him.
Personal Life and Death
In 1884, George Goethals married Effie Rodman. They had two sons. Goethals passed away in his apartment in Manhattan, New York City on January 21, 1928. He was buried at the West Point Cemetery at the United States Military Academy.
Legacy and Tributes
- He is the great-great-grandfather of actress Angela Goethals.
- A United States liberty ship in World War II, the USNS George W. Goethals, was named in his honor.
- The United States Army Corps of Engineers dredge Goethals was named after him.
- The Goethals Medal is awarded by the Society of American Military Engineers for important contributions to engineering.
- The Goethals Bridge between Staten Island, New York City, and Elizabeth, New Jersey, bears his name.
- Streets are named for him in Richland, Washington, Queens, New York City (near St. John's University), Fort Leonard Wood, and Gamboa, Panama.
- His image appears on several US and Panama Canal Zone stamps.
- The Goethals Monument was built in Panama City in 1954.
Images for kids
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Roosevelt and Goethals on US stamp, 1939
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Goethals on Canal Zone postage stamp, 1928
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Goethals Monument, Panama City
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Goethals Bridge
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Dredge Goethals
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USNS George W. Goethals
See also
In Spanish: George Washington Goethals para niños
