American naval officer, born in Wilmington, NC, on the 19th of November 1811; entered the navy as a midshipman in 1827; commissioned lieutenant in 1839; for gallantry in the Mexican War was given command of the schooner Morris, and subsequently of other vessels, until he was promoted commander in 1855. He was in command of the Kearsarge on special service in pursuit of the privateer Alabama; found and blockaded her in the harbor of Cherbourg, June 14, 1864; accompanied her outside the neutral ground Sunday, June 19th, and in an engagement of one hour and twenty minutes so shattered her that she quickly sank, thus terminating the only important battle of the war between two vessels; was promoted to commodore, and commanded the Gulf Squadron (1866–67); was on the board of examiners (1868–69); promoted rear-admiral in 1870, and commanded the Pacific Squadron (1870–72). He died in Boston on the 29th of September 1873.
