Scope and Content Note
The papers of David Conner (1792-1856) span the years 1817-1847, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1844-1847. The collection consists of correspondence, reports, invoices, ships returns, extracts from ships logs, and other official naval papers primarily pertaining to Conner's service as commander of United States naval forces in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Many of the letters are from commanders of vessels, such as the Bainbridge, Falmouth, Porpoise, Potomac, and Vandalia. Included is material relating to the 1844 revolution in the Dominican Republic, naval operations in the Mexican War, and preparations for the attack on Vera Cruz, Mexico, where Conner managed the landing of General Winfield Scott's army.
Correspondents include John H. Aulick, George Bancroft, Franklin Chase, W. H. Chase, John S. Chauncey, Joseph Gideon, James William Glass, John Gwinn, William E. Hunt, W. Latimer, E. A. F. Lavallette, Henri Levi, John Y. Mason, Joseph Mattison, John L. Saunders, and Winfield Scott.