Biography

Civil War Union Navy Rear Admiral. Born in the District of Columbia, he was the son of a chief clerk in the Naval Department. He became a midshipman in the Navy at the age of 7 , but did not go to sea until 1817.  He served in the Navy during the Mexican War.  In 1861 he became a Captain and during the Civil War he was appointed to command the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.   When in July 1862 the James River Flotilla was created from his squadron, he asked to be relieved from command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The day after he requested this relief, he was promoted to Rear Admiral. From September 1862 until April 1865 he performed administrative duties for the Navy Department in Washington D.C. In February 1865 the department decided to reestablish a squadron in European waters and appointed him to the command. His major responsibility was to destroy the Confederate commerce cruisers Rappahannock, Shenandoah, and Tallahassee and the ironclad ram Stonewall. Though the Civil War was over by July, when he reached Europe, he was ordered to seize any former "rebel vessels." None was captured, however, and after 2 years he relinquished command of the squadron and returned to the United States. He retired in 1871, died in Washington, DC six years later.

He is mentioned by Fanny in her diary as one of the guests at Mrs Hooper's party on January 19, 1863.