Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1822, Feb. 21 | Born, Red Hook, N.Y. |
| 1839 | Appointed midshipman in the U.S. Navy |
| 1839-1840 | Duty in USS United States, Home Squadron |
| 1840-1841 | Duty in USS Potomac, Brazil Squadron |
| 1841-1842 | Duty in USS Marion, Brazil Squadron |
| 1842-1843 | Duty in USS Bainbridge, Home Squadron |
| 1843-1844 | Duty in USS Potomac, Home Squadron |
| 1844-1845 | Duty at the Naval School, Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 1845 | Promoted to passed midshipman |
| 1845-1846 | Coast survey duty |
| 1846 | Duty in USS United States, Africa Squadron |
| 1846-1848 | Duty in USS Marion, Africa and Mediterranean Squadrons |
| 1847 | Married Sarah Hutchins Abercrombie (died 1871) |
| 1849 | Duty in USS Morris |
| 1850-1851 | Duty in USS Atlantic |
| 1851 | Duty in USS Georgia |
| 1851-1854 | On leave from the navy |
| 1854 | Commissioned lieutenant Resigned from the navy |
| 1854-1856 | Chief officer, Collins Steamship Line |
| 1856-1861 | Commanded commercial ships and helped survey the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Mexico) |
| 1861-1863 | Consul general, Havana, Cuba 1862 Served on a mission to Mexico |
| 1863 | Commissioned commander Commanded USS Conemaugh, South Atlantic Blockade Squadron |
| 1863-1865 | Commanded USS Proteus,East Gulf Squadron |
| 1865-1866 | Commanded USS Hartford, East India Squadron |
| 1866-1868 | Commanded USS Wachusett, East India-Asiatic Squadron |
| 1868 | Ordnance duty, New York Navy Yard |
| 1868-1869 | Commanded New York Naval Rendezvous |
| 1869-1870 | Commanded USS Minantonomoh |
| 1870 | Promoted to captain Ordnance duty, Portsmouth Navy Yard |
| 1870-1871 | Commanded Tehuantepec (Mexico) Survey Expedition |
| 1871-1872 | Commanded USS Wabash, European Squadron |
| 1872-1873 | Commanded USS Plymouth, European Squadron |
| 1873-1875 | Executive officer, New York Navy Yard |
| 1875-1878 | Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting |
| 1878-1880 | Commanded USS Ticonderoga on a world cruise sponsored by the Department of the Navy and Department of State |
| 1881 | Naval attaché, Peking, China |
| 1882-1884 | President, Naval Advisory Board |
| 1883-1884 | Superintendent, Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C |
| 1884 | Promoted to rear admiral Retired from the navy |
| 1889 | Declined post of U.S. minister to China |
| 1895, Nov. 6 | Died, Washington, D.C. |