[John Henry]. American naval officer, born in Northampton County, VA, on the 5th of December 1823, and entered the navy, November 4, 1841, becoming a passed midshipman in 1847, after the fall of Vera Cruz, in the bombardment of which he participated. He was promoted to be master, July 18, 1855, and became lieutenant on September 14th following. At the breaking out of the Civil War he was ordered to the North Atlantic squadron, and was present at the capture of the forts along Hatteras Inlet and the coast of North Carolina. In 1862 and 1863 he participated in the operations of the South Atlantic squadron off South Carolina, and on July 16th of the former year was promoted to be lieutenant-commander, becoming commander July 25, 1866, captain July 31, 1872, and rear-admiral October 1, 1884. He was placed on the retired list June 1, 1885. He served on the board of inspectors (1877–80); commandant of the Brooklyn navy-yard (1882–84); commander-in-chief of the Pacific station (1884–85); and for a number of years on the examining board.
