|
Admiral David G. Farragut
|
Farragut, DAVID GLASGOW, naval
officer; born near Knoxville, Tenn., July 5, 1801; son of George
Farragut, who was a native of Minorca; came to America in 1776; entered
the Continental army; was a bugler, it is supposed, at the age of
seventeen, in the battle of the Cowpens; attained the rank of major;
settled in Tennessee; and was master in the United States navy, serving
under Patterson in the defense of New Orleans. David entered the navy as
midshipman when between nine and ten years of age, first serving under
Porter, and was with him in the terrible fight at Valparaiso. He was
promoted to commander in 1841, having served faithfully up to that time.
Still persevering in duty, he was placed in very responsible positions
afloat and
|
|
ashore,
and when the Civil War broke out he was in command of the
Brooklyn, steam sloop-of-war. He commanded the naval
expedition against New Orleans in the spring of 1862, having the
Hartford as his flagship. Organizing the
West Gulf blockading squadron, on his arrival in the Gulf of Mexico, by
boldness and skill, with admirable assistants, he went up to New Orleans
triumphantly. He operated with great vigor on the Mississippi River,
afterwards, between New Orleans and Vicksburg; and on July 16, 1862, was
placed first on the list of pro-posed admirals. In 1863 he co-operated
in the capture of Port Hudson, and in August, 1864, defeated the
Confederate forces in Mobile Bay.
Farragut's Flagship, "The Harford"
His
exploits in the Gulf region gave him great fame, and in December, 1864,
he received the thanks of Congress, and the rank of vice-admiral was
created expressly for him. In July, 1866, he was promoted to admiral. He
visited Europe in 1867 — 68, and was received with the highest honors.
He died in Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 14, 1870. |
