G. VON L. MEYER '79 DIED AT HIS HOME ON SATURDAY

George von Lengerke Meyer '79, LL.D. '11, former Secretary of the Navy, and a member of the University Board of Overseers, died at his home, 54 Beacon street, Boston, late Saturday night after an illness of several weeks' duration.

He was born in Boston 60 years ago, and was graduated from the University in 1879. For 20 years after leaving the University he was engaged in business, and headed numerous banking houses and manufacturing concerns.

In 1889 he began his public career by entrance into local politics, while two years later he entered the National field as a member of the House of Representatives. He became Speaker of the House in 1894 and was re-elected the two succeeding terms.

Under President McKinley in 1900 he was enrolled in the diplomatic service as ambassador to Italy. During President Roosevelt's administration he filled the post of ambassador to Italy. During President Roosevelt's administration he filled the post of ambassador to Russia, with conspicuous credit. His service in this capacity was especially noteworthy as coming at the time of the Russo-Japanese war, when St. Petersburg was one of the most important posts in the diplomatic service owing to the delicate condition of international relations and domestic unrest in Russia.

In 1907 he was called to the Cabinet as Postmaster General by President Roosevelt. During his term of office he displayed great energy in introducing practical improvements, eliminating red tape and conducting the work of the department on a purely business basis.

Two years later he was appointed by President Taft as Secretary of the Navy and in this capacity organized systematic investigations with many subsequent reforms.