On March 27, 1794, Congress and President George Washington signed the Naval Act, authorizing the permanent creation of the U.S. Navy. Today, exactly 220 years later, more than 320,000 Navy personnel are on active duty, with more than 100,000 on reserve.
In its 220 years, the Navy has graduated hundreds of notable veterans—among them are several U.S. presidents like George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, and John F. Kennedy, just to name a few. But you may be surprised who else has served among the Navy’s ranks—like rapper MC Hammer and Hollywood legend Humphrey Bogart. See more unexpected celebrity Navy veterans in our gallery.