Ridley McLean was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to Thornton and Sallie McLean. Thornton, the son of KentuckyCongressmanFinis Ewing McLean, was in the banking business in Pulaski. Sallie died on November 22, 1872, just 12 days after giving birth to her only child. Thornton and Ridley soon left for California, lived there for a decade, and returned to Murfreesboro around 1883. Thornton died in 1887, leaving Ridley in the care of his maternal uncle, Army Captain B.L. Ridley, and his wife. After two years at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Ridley was appointed to the Naval Academy by Congressman James D. Richardson, and commenced on May 20, 1890.
Military career
Early career
After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1894, one of McLean's first assignments was to the gunboat during the Reyes Rebellion in Nicaragua in February 1900. Attached to the staff of Rear Admiral Louis Kempff on board the flagship, USS Kentucky, he participated in Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and the Philippine insurrection during 1901–1902. In 1902 LT McLean wrote The Bluejacket's Manual for the United States Naval Institute, a book intended to provide information useful to new recruits and be a reference for every person in Naval service. In 1903 he contributed a chapter titled "Practical Naval Gunnery" to the Text Book of Ordinance and Gunnery. In 1904 he was assistant to LCDR William Sims, Inspector of target practice and in 1906 was given orders to report to the. This tour would be cut short upon receipt of new orders to the staff of the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry. LCDR McLean was on the Admiral's flagship the on its tour around the world in the Great White Fleet from 1907 to 1909. Following staff duty LCDR McLean was Atlantic Fleet ordnance officer before assuming duties as the Executive Officer on board the. In 1913 Commander McLean assumed what is normally a Captain billet as Judge Advocate General of the US Navy, a position which entitled him the rank of Captain in title only. He served in this role until December 1916, when he received orders to become Commanding Officer of the through May 1917.
World War I
When World War I broke out Commander McLean served as Chief of Staff for the Battleship Force 1, Atlantic Fleet under VADM Albert Grant until 1918 at which time he was chosen to become the Commanding Officer of the, escorting allied convoys.
Post War
After a short tour as Commanding officer on the USS New Hampshire, he became the CO of the September 1918-September 1919. At the same time he was permanently appointed to the rank of Captain and for the next few years McLean was stationed at the Army War College in Washington D.C. From June 1922 through April 1924 Captain McLean was CO of the. Assuming the role as Director of Naval Communications in July 1924, CAPT McLean pioneered the use of shortwave radio communications when he authorized the experiment on board the on the 1925 cruise of Australia and New Zealand. Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1927 and as Commander of Battleforce Submarines using the submarine tender as his flagship. Rear Admiral McLean fought for submarine sustainability and flexibility to fight long ways from home and for extended periods.
Personal life
In November 1916 Commander McLean married Olive Gale Hill and became stepfather to her two children from a previous marriage.
Death
On November 12, 1933, at the age of 61, Rear Admiral McLean, Commander of Battleship Division 3 died suddenly from a fatal heart attack aboard his flagship the, while at anchor in San Francisco bay. The following day funeral services were held on board the Nevada while the flagged draped coffin of the Rear Admiral lay on the deck. Crews from all 50 warships in San Francisco were summoned to stand at attention during the service. After the service was complete the Nevada steamed through Golden Gate, passing the as she fired a thirteen-gun salute. His body was later interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
