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The capture of Guam by the United States during the Spanish-American War in 1898 marked the beginning of American rule over the island, which would last for over a century[1][2][3]. The U.S. Navy governed Guam from 1898 until 1950, with a brief interruption when the island was occupied by Japan during World War II[1][3].
In the immediate aftermath of the capture, Captain Henry Glass entrusted the governance of Guam to a small contingent of American troops and a naturalized American citizen named Francisco Portusach[4]. However, Portusach's role was more of a balancing power with the Spanish treasurer José Sixto, rather than a formal governorship[2].
The period of political ambiguity ended in August 1899 when Captain Richard Leary became the first naval governor of Guam, establishing the first naval administration[2][4]. Under U.S. rule, Guam underwent significant changes, including the adoption of American systems of governance, language, and culture[1].
The naval governors made many contributions to the island, though their rule was not without controversy[1]. The U.S. Navy's governance had long-lasting impacts on Guam, including the construction of infrastructure, the rebuilding of the capital Hagåtña based on a California model, and the establishment of large military bases that still dominate much of the island today[1].