The Corps' Establishment in 1898

The Hospital Corps came into existent as an organized unit of the Medical Department under the provision of an act of Congress approved 17 June 1898. this act provided for appointment to the warrant rank of pharmacist and established the following ratings:
  1. Hospital Steward (chief petty officer)
  2. Hospital Apprentice First Class (third class petty officer)
  3. Hospital Apprentice
Under this act, the Secretary of the Navy appointed 25 senior apothecaries as pharmacists. These original 25 are tight fully referred to as the charter members of the Hospital Corps. The dean of these was Cornelius O'Leary, who was credited at date of appointment with almost 38 years as an apothecary.

In 1900, during the Boxer uprising in China, the first member of the Hospital corps was awarded the Medal of Honor the citation reads in part:

"Stanley, Robert, Hospital Apprentice, USN in action with the relief expedition of the Allied Forced in China during the battles of 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. Through this period and in the presence of the enemy, Stanley distinguished himself by meritorious conduct."
Stanley retired from the Navy on 1 February 1939 with the rank of Chief Pharmacist and died on 15 June 1942. A total of Four Medals of Honor were awarded to hospital corpsmen prior to World War I.

An act of congress approved 22 August 1912 Provided that pharmacists, after 6 years from date of warrant and after satisfactorily passing the prescribed examinations, should be commissioned chief pharmacists.

The Hospital Corps was reorganized by an act of Congress approved 29 August 1916. this act is considered of sufficient importance to quote in part:

Hereafter the authorized strength of the Hospital Corps of the Navy shall equal three and one-half percentum of the authorized enlisted strength of the Navy and Marine Corps, and shall be in addition, thereto, and as soon as the necessary transfers or appointments may be effected, the Hospital Corps of the United States Navy shall consist of the following rates: Chief Pharmacist, Pharmacists, and enlisted men classified as Chief Pharmacist's Mates; Pharmacist's Mates, First Class; Pharmacist's Mates, Second Class; Pharmacist's Mates, Third Class; Hospital Apprentice, First class; Hospital Apprentice, Second Class; Such classifications in enlisted ratings to correspond respectively to the enlisted rating, Seaman branch. *** Provided, That enlisted men in other rating in the Navy and Marine Corps and men of that Corps shall be eligible for transfer to the Hospital Corps and men of that Corps to other rating in the Navy and Marine Corps. *** The Secretary of the Navy is hereby empowered to limit and fix the numbers in the various ratings. *** and emoluents of enlist4ed men of the Hospital Corps shall be the same as are now, or may hereafter, be allowed for respective corresponding ratings. *** Hospital and ambulance service, with such commands and at such places as many be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, shall be performed by members of said corps, and the corps shall be a constituent part of the Medical Department of the Navy: