E. J. King
King, Ernest Joseph (1878–1956), a United States naval officer. During most of World War II King was both commander in chief of the U.S. fleet (1941–45) and chief of naval operations (1942–45), the first man to hold both positions at the same time. He was one of four naval officers to hold the five-star rank of admiral of the fleet. King had a part in most of the major military decisions of World War II, and attended many top-level diplomatic conferences, including those at Casablanca, Yalta, and Potsdam. He was considered a brilliant strategist and organizer.
King was born in Lorain, Ohio. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, obtained leave to serve in the Spanish-American War, and finally was graduated in 1901. During World War I he served with the Atlantic Fleet. King became a rear admiral in 1933 and vice admiral in command of the fleet's aircraft battle force in 1938. On February 1, 1941, he was appointed commander of the Atlantic Fleet, and on December 20 the same year he became commander of the entire navy. King was made a full admiral in 1941 and admiral of the fleet in 1944.
King retired in 1945. He was a bitter opponent of the armed services unification plan of 1947, arguing that it would decrease the effectiveness of the navy.