History of the Navy Crest

This symbol was used through the late 19th century.

The U.S. Navy did not have an official crest, or seal, until 1957. Several different designs and symbols were used throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The present-day seal, which is now found on the official Navy flag, was authorized by presidential order on April 24, 1959.

First American Navy Seal

The first American Navy crest was adopted by the Continental Congress on May 4, 1780. There was not a Department of the Navy as there is today. At that time, naval business was coordinated by the Board of Admiralty. This seal was worn by officers in the Navy and is described as follows by Department of the Navy Historical Center. "The arms, thirteen bars mutually supporting each other, alternate red and white in a blue field, and surmounting an anchor proper. The crest a ship under sail. The motto Sustentans et Sustentatum. The legend U.S.A. Sigil. Naval."

The Second Version

In 1785 the last ship of the Continental Navy of the American Revolution was sold. It was not until 1798 that a separate Navy Department was founded. This new Navy Department no longer used the original crest. However, it still contained the basic elements of the crest used from 1780-1785; the sea, a ship under sail, an eagle and an anchor.

Changes in 1850

The seal went unchanged for nearly 52 years until it was again modified. Neither the 1798 or the 1850 seals appeared to have any specific authorization, and different bureaus and departments within the organization had slightly different designs. Variations existed in the size and position of the ship, anchor and eagle.

The Final Design

With many civilian and military officials expressing a desire for one standardized design, the Navy adopted the current official design in 1959. Issued by Executive Order 10736 on October 23, 1959, by President Eisenhower, the current crest was adopted. Finally, after nearly 180 years the Navy had a standardized crest and flag that would be consistent across departments and bureaus. The crest has remained unchanged since 1959 and is still in use today.

Symbolism of the Crest

The current Navy crest has images of a ship, land and an eagle, among other symbolic icons and colors. These three main images represent the ability of the Navy to support land, air and sea operations. The crest adorns the official Navy flag, which is only used for display purposes and is carried by an honor guard for ceremonial occasions.

References

• Department of the Navy Historical Center: Origins of the US Navy Flag
• Department of the Navy Historical Center: Navy seal

Resources

• History Central: History of the US Navy