John Chafee

John Lester Hubbard Chafee (October 22, 1922 – October 24, 1999) was an American politician. He was an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He was the 66th Governor of Rhode Island. He was the Secretary of the Navy. He was a United States Senator.

John Chafee
United States Senator from Rhode Island
In office December 28, 1976 – October 24, 1999
Preceded by	John O. Pastore
Succeeded by	Lincoln Chafee
59th United States Secretary of the Navy 12th Secretary under the DoD
In office January 31, 1969 – May 4, 1972
President	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Paul R. Ignatius
Succeeded by	John Warner
66th Governor of Rhode Island
In office January 1, 1963 – January 7, 1969
Preceded by	John A. Notte, Jr.
Succeeded by	Frank Licht
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
In office January 4, 1995 – October 24, 1999
Preceded by	Max Baucus
Succeeded by	Robert C. Smith
Personal details
Born	John Lester Hubbard Chafee (1922-10-22)October 22, 1922 Providence, Rhode Island
Died	October 24, 1999(1999-10-24) (aged 77) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Chafee Family Cemetery Warwick, Rhode Island
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Virginia Coates Chafee
Alma mater	Yale University (1947) Harvard Law School (1950)
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1942–1945, 1951–1953
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Battle of Okinawa Chosin Reservoir

Chafee was born on October 22, 1922 in Providence, Rhode Island. He studied at Yale University and at Harvard Law School. Chafee was married to Virginia Coates until his death in 1999. They had six children; one daughter was killed in an racing accident.

Chafee died suddenly on October 24, 1999 from congestive heart failure in his home in Washington, D.C., aged 77.^[1] He is buried at Chafee Family Cemetery in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Chafee's son, Lincoln, is a former governor and former senator of Rhode Island.