Who was Joe?

Where did the use of the name “Joe” as a synonym for coffee come from? To find out, we have to go into the history of the United States Navy.

As early as 1847, there were efforts to ban the provision and use of alcoholic liquors aboard ships and bases of the Navy. This, of course, ran counter to centuries of tradition stemming from the British Navy – that of providing sailors with a ration of grog (rum) each day. But in 1847, U.S. Representative Jonathan A. Rockwell, of Connecticut , proposed in a speech on the floor of Congress the abolishment of “the spirit ration” in the Navy. Remarks by a Dr. Warren, whom I can't identify but who may also have been a member of Congress, delivered in an address to the naval forces in the Pacific in 1844, stated:

“It has been said that a man of war is a state prison. If that be true, Rum is the jailor. Destroy that, and the shipped man can be free as the commissioned officer. Would you desire such a state of things? You have only to will it, and it must be so. Your country has at last advanced one step toward rescuing the sailor from perpetual degradation to which the too free use of ardent spirits has hitherto consigned him. Congress has passed a law to regulate the navy ration, by which whiskey is reduced one-half, and lieu thereof tea and coffee are issued . . .”

It wasn't until 1914, though, that “ardent spirits” weren't just reduced, but were banned outright. General Order 99, promulgated by the Secretary of the Navy on 1 July 1914, stated:

“Change in Article 827, Naval Instructions:

On July 1, 1914, Article 827, Naval Instructions, will be annulled and in its stead the following will be substituted:

The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order.”

[signed] Josephus Daniels

Secretary of the Navy

Josephus Daniels thus became immortalized by disgruntled sailors who were forced to substitute coffee for their rum and whiskey on board Navy ships and bases. They sarcastically referred to the substitute beverage as “Joe.”

This order has long since been rescinded, as anyone who's been in the Naval services (Navy and Coast Guard) can tell you – liquor is freely available for purchase at Navy and Coast Guard base exchanges.

(Sources: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article9028714/JosephusDaniels ; http://www.answers.com/topic/Josephus-daniels ; http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/bio/ncbiz/daniels.htm ; http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/raleigh/dan.htm)