Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1801-07-05
Death 1870-08-14
Birth 1801-07-05
Death 1870-08-14
Birth 1801-07-05
Death 1870-08-14
Gender:
Male
Americans
English, Spanish; Castilian

Biographical notes:

David Glasgow Farragut (also spelled Glascoe; July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay usually paraphrased as "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" in U.S. Navy tradition.

Born near Knoxville, Tennessee, Farragut was fostered by naval officer David Porter after the death of his mother. Despite his young age, Farragut served in the War of 1812 under the command of his adoptive father. In 1812, he also traded his original first name, “James,” to “David” in honor of his adoptive father. This “adoption” made David Farragut the “foster brother” of another famous Civil War admiral, David Dixon Porter. Farragut received his first command in 1824 and participated in anti-piracy operations in the Caribbean Sea. He served in the Mexican–American War under the command of Matthew C. Perry, participating in the blockade of Tuxpan. After the war, he oversaw the construction of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, the first U.S. Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean.

Though Farragut resided in Norfolk, Virginia, prior to the Civil War, he was a Southern Unionist who strongly opposed Southern secession and remained loyal to the Union after the outbreak of the Civil War. Despite some doubts about Farragut's loyalty, Farragut was assigned command of an attack on the important Confederate port city of New Orleans. After fighting past Fort St. Philip and Fort Jackson, Farragut captured New Orleans in April 1862. He was promoted to rear admiral after the battle and helped extend Union control up along the Mississippi River, participating in the siege of Port Hudson. With the Union in control of the Mississippi, Farragut led a successful attack on Mobile Bay, home to the last major Confederate port on the Gulf of Mexico.

Farragut was promoted to admiral following the end of the Civil War and remained on active duty until his death in 1870 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard located in Kittery, Maine. He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, in The Bronx, New York City. His gravesite is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as is Woodlawn Cemetery itself. The Navy has named the following vessels after Farragut: Farragut (Destroyer No. 300), Farragut (DD-348), Farragut (DLG-6), and Farragut (DDG-99)

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Subjects:

  • Admirals
  • Admirals
  • Admirals
  • Correspondence
  • Firearms
  • Military history
  • Letters
  • Military weapons
  • Mobile Bay, Battle of, Ala., 1864
  • Mobile Bay, Battle of, Ala., 1864
  • Naval Officer
  • New Orleans (La.)
  • Orders, Preparation of (Military science)
  • Ordnance, Naval
  • Admirals
  • Admirals
  • Mobile Bay, Battle of, Ala., 1864

Occupations:

  • Admirals
  • Admirals
  • Naval officers
  • Admirals

Places:

  • Tennessee, TN, US
  • Kittery, ME, US
  • Mexico (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • New Orleans (La.) (as recorded)
  • France (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • New Orleans (La.) (as recorded)
  • France (as recorded)
  • Mexico (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Louisiana (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Galveston (Tex.) (as recorded)
  • Chiquiri Lagoon (Panama) (as recorded)

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