His father operated the ferry and served as a cavalry officer in the Tennessee militia. Updates? In the meantime, his first wife died of illness in 1840 and he remarried three years later. Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary. The rest of the fleet followed and anchored above the forts. David Glasgow Farragut was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, and entered the United States Navy at the age of nine, not an unusual occurrence in that era. His father, merchant seaman Jorge Antonio Farragut-Mesquida, was born on the Spanish island Minorca in 1755. He became the first admiral in the U.S. Navy. The Southern-born officer led the Union capture of New Orleans in April 1862 and the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864, in which he … Facts about David Farragut explain the information about a flag officer when the American civil war broke out. Biography. Named for Admiral David Farragut, who was born in this area, Farragut High School began in 1904 as a six-room frame academic building on twelve acres of donated land at the junction of Concord Road and Kingston Pike. Congress also created the rank of vice admiral, to which Farragut immediately received a promotion. He was expected by many to side with the southern secessionists. Born July 5, 1801, in Knoxville, TN, David Glasgow Farragut was the son of Jorge and Elizabeth Farragut. A line of mines (“torpedoes”) on one side of the bay’s channel obliged any attacking ships to pass close to Fort Morgan on the other side of the channel, and the Confederate ironclad Tennessee was also stationed in the bay. David Farragut, in full David Glasgow Farragut, (born July 5, 1801, near Knoxville, Tenn., U.S.—died Aug. 14, 1870, Portsmouth, N.H.), U.S. admiral who achieved fame for his outstanding Union naval victories during the American Civil War (1861–65). Farragut was a veteran of the War of 1812 the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War, steadily advancing in each through a combination of hard work, excellent leadership, and a keen strategic mind. David Farragut was born April 5, 1801, near Knoxville, Tennessee. He was a member of U.S. Navy. Full speed ahead!” The Union fleet lost one ironclad ship to the explosives, the USS Tecumseh, and 335 men, but Farragut took Fort Morgan and secured the blockade. Having become a rear admiral in 1862 and a vice admiral in 1864, he was made a full admiral in 1866. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Grateful to the Farraguts for caring for his father, David Porter’s son, also David Porter, offered to adopt James, and Jorge Farragut said yes. He swung his own ship, the Hartford, clear and headed across the mines, which failed to explode. Her sculpture, cast from the propeller of the naval hero’s flagship, was unveiled in April 1881 in Farragut Square, Washington, D.C. The Farragut Gravesite and Monument The impressive Farragut Monument marks the gravesite. Life in the frontier was not only rugged but also extremely dangerous. He was a Virginian by choice and had married a southern lady, Virginia Loyall. Soon after the battle, Congress created the new rank of rear admiral in order to promote Farragut, who became the first man to hold that rank in the United States Navy. The stone monument is worn, but otherwise in good condition. H.H. Glowing references from Farragut’s peers and records of Farragut’s foresight in the Gulf of Mexico in 1838 secured his command. torpedo field in 1864 Jouett, full speed!” In popular culture, he is often quoted as saying, “Damn the torpedoes! David Farragut. In the decades that followed the admiral’s death, the rural cemetery received a reputation as a graveyard of America’s northeastern elite and as a gallery for skilled stone carvers and architects. Taking Gulf of Mexico Ports. Farragut had been born in Tennessee. At the base of the pillar, carved into the stone, are symbols of Farragut’s military career: three shields that represent Farragut’s connection to the U.S. Navy, the forts he took at New Orleans, and his Civil War flagship, the Hartford; an anchor; a sword; a sextant; a draped sail; and a compass. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Farragut, American Battlefield Trust - Biography of David G. Farragut, The Civil War - Biography of David Farragut, National Park Service - Biography of David Glasgow Farragut, David Farragut - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). David Farragut, in full David Glasgow Farragut, (born July 5, 1801, near Knoxville, Tenn., U.S.—died Aug. 14, 1870, Portsmouth, N.H.), U.S. admiral who achieved fame for his outstanding Union naval victories during the American Civil War (1861–65). He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. Virginia Farragut received special permission from President Johnson to join her husband on the USS Franklin, as Farragut attended social events with heads of state throughout Europe. Despite his young age, Farragut served in the War of 1812 under the command of his adoptive father. He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on July 5, 1801. They had several children. Although the War Department had recommended that he first reduce the two forts that lay some distance downstream of the city by mortar fire, he successfully carried out his own, bolder plan of running past them with guns blazing in the dark (April 24, 1862). … Professor Charles E. Koon, the principal the first year, was succeeded by … His flagship during the Civil War was the USS Hartford, a newly commissioned sloop-of-war. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. She was the mother of his only surviving son, Loyall Farragut. The Farraguts lived in Campbell’s Station, Tennessee until 1807 when Jorge was stationed at New Orleans. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. During the war, James changed his first name to David in honor of his adoptive father. His second wife, Virginia Loyall Farragut, was also from Norfolk. The monument is a tall, carved, marble pillar on a granite block, and was the work of New York City-based stone carvers, Casoni & Isola. Farragut’s grand funeral promoted the new Woodlawn Cemetery, founded in 1863, and his monument set the early standard for the cemetery’s memorial architecture. Omissions? In 1838, Farragut served in the Gulf of Mexico, where he witnessed the French attack on Veracruz. This victory boosted moral in the North and propelled Farragut into the public spotlight. The fleet succeeded in entering the bay, and the heroic quote became famous. David Farragut first person to attaint the rank of Admiral in the United States Navy, which he earned during the American Civil War. As a child he was adopted by Commodore David Porter of the US Navy. The bloody skirmish lasted over two hours and killed 58 of Porter’s crew. David Glasgow Farragut was the Union Admiral who served most of the war as commander of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. His naval force then destroyed most of the Confederate river squadron that was stationed just upstream of the forts. In May 1878, while at work on the statue, Ream married Lieutenant (later Brigadier General) Richard L. Hoxie, with whom she…. In the 1850s, the navy promoted him to captain and he established the first U.S. naval base on the west coast, California’s Mare Island Naval Ship Yard. David Farragut was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on 5th July, 1801. The lesson plan has been produced by the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places program, which offers a series of online classroom-ready lesson plans on registered historic places. Born James Glasgow Farragut on July 5, 1801, at Campbell’s Station (now Farragut), Tennessee, he was the second son and second of five children. As disaster seemed imminent, Farragut shouted his famous words, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” to the hesitating Brooklyn. James (later David) G. Farragut was born on July 5, 1801, near Knoxville, Tenn., the son of George Farragut, a U.S. Army and Navy officer. David Glasgow Farragut’s father, Jorge, was a Spanish merchant captain who had served in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. He met his wife, Scotch-Irish American Elizabeth Shine, in 1795. Jorge, a Minorcan immigrant during the American Revolution, was a merchant captain as well as a cavalry officer in the Tennessee militia. Courtesy of the Woodlawn Cemetery. David Farragut was born in Farragut, TN on July 5, 1801. Was the son of George Farragut, a Spanish merchant captain born on the island Minorca, Spain. For more information, visit the Woodlawn Cemetery website or call 718-920-0500. Courtesy of Anthony22, Wikimedia Commons, "Damn the torpedoes!" Yet a lifetime of service had endowed Captain Farragut with a deep, unbending loyalty to the United States. David recalls a time when his mother sent him aloft to watch an approaching Indian Party while she stood ready at the barricaded door with an axe. David Glasgow Farragut. During the War of 1812, Farragut had his first command, a captured British ship named the HMS Barclay. David Farragut is featured on the Vicksburg National Military Park website. Library of Congress. His father, merchant seaman Jorge Antonio Farragut-Mesquida, was born on the Spanish island Minorca in 1755. After the war, Farragut served in U.S. fleets in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York His full name was David Glasgow Farragut. David Glasgow Farragut was born James Glasgow Farragut, on July 5, 1801 at Lowe's Ferry on the Holston River in Tennessee, close to Campbell's Station near Knoxville, U.S., to Jordi (George) Farragut and Elizabeth (née Shine). Farragut returned to the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, on the Tallapoosa. As a young child he moved to New Orleans with his mother and other siblings. Farragut next turned his attention to Mobile Bay, Ala., which was defended by several forts, the largest of which was Fort Morgan. The following year, when General Ulysses S. Grant was advancing toward Vicksburg, Miss., Farragut greatly aided him by passing the heavy defensive works at Port Hudson below the Red River and stopping Confederate traffic below that tributary. By the eve of the Civil War, Captain Farragut was approaching retirement from a successful, though not yet celebrated, career. Map of Mobile Bay, 1861, His wife, son, and daughter-in-law joined him there later. David Farragut was born on July 5, 1801 near Campbell Station, Tennessee. In 1866, Congress promoted Farragut a final time when it created the new rank of admiral (four stars). The couple visited Spanish Minorca where Farragut’s father was born, as well as Portugal, Gibraltar, Italy, Malta, Holland, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, France, Switzerland, Sweden, England, and Russia. Woodlawn Cemetery is a National Historic Landmark because of its significance in landscape architecture, built architecture, and art. After President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana territory, people were needed to staff the new U.S. port at New Orleans. Under Farragut’s leadership, the United States Navy took New Orleans and surrounding Confederate forts in the spring of 1862. The mayor of New York City asked the navy to return Farragut’s remains to the northern city that embraced the Virginian officer just nine years earlier. His mother was from North Carolina but her parents were from Ireland. David Farragut, the second of two sons, was born on July 5, 1801 as James Glasgow Farragut. His father fought for the American Revolutionary cause and changed his name to George. In 1805, George accepted to be positioned in New Orleans and mov… Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He was given his first independent command in 1824. One of our foremost Hispanic Naval figures is Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, who’s brilliant career is well-known. In 1823 he served under Porter in a squadron that suppressed pirates in the Caribbean. On October 1, soldiers, sailors, and politicians -- including President Ulysses S. Grant -- formed a funeral procession two miles long to escort the admiral’s coffin to his final resting place at Woodlawn Cemetery. Jorge and David Farragut are descendants of conquistador Don Pedro Farragut who served the King of Aragon, a realm that included eastern Spain, during the 13th century. He served under David Porter on the Essex where the two established a lasting relationship. A figure of transcendent historical importance, Admiral David Glasgow Farragut devoted his life to service in the United States Navy. David Farragut was born James Glasgow Farragut to George (Jorge) Farragut and Elizabeth Shine Farragut on July 5, 1801. The Battle of Mobile Bay is the subject of an online lesson plan, Fort Morgan and the Battle of Mobile Bay. Farragut served under Porter aboard the frigate Essex in the War of 1812; this vessel captured so many British whaling vessels that Farragut, then age 12, was put in charge of one of the prize ships. Also Check Net Worth of Bob Weber, Assotto Saint and Tommy O'Sullivan. This first battle hardened Farragut and Porter was impressed by his ward’s ability to perform under pressure. The cemetery’s administration office is open during those hours, except on Federal holidays. His father joined the American Revolution War just after arriving to America in 1766. Naming his son James at birth, Jorge soon moved the family to New Orleans. The American naval officer David Glasgow Farragut was the hero of two of the most important Union naval victories in the Civil War. He is one of the successful War Hero. Over 500 years later, Jorge Farragut left Minorca as a young man to work on merchant ships. Later in life, Farragut wrote, “to the day of his death Comdre Porter was a father to me and I never saw my own father again.” After the adoption, the Porters left New Orleans and moved to Washington, D.C., and then West Chester, Pennsylvania. It was a few miles southeast of Campbell's Station, near Knoxville. The son of a Spanish-American immigrant and Revolutionary War veteran, Farragut himself was a Civil War hero remembered for his bravery at the Battle of Mobile Bay. When the war ended he took his family to settle in the wilderness of Tennessee. By the age of 20 he was already an accomplished ship’s officer. Farragut was born in 1801 near Knoxville. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Troops from Union transports could then land almost under Farragut’s protecting batteries, resulting in the surrender of both forts and city. The Old Louisiana State Capitol in New Orleans, captured after Farragut’s victory in 1862, is featured in the National Park Service Explore the History and Culture of Southeastern Louisiana travel itinerary and the Mobile National Cemetery is featured in Civil War Era National Cemeteries: Honoring Those Who Served travel itinerary. When the Mexican-American War was underway, Farragut received command of a ship in the Gulf in 1847, but was too late to the war to direct the bombardment of the city of Veracruz. It was here that David Glasgow Farragut was born. He became the first admiral in the U.S. Navy. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy.23 He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" He married his first wife, Susan Merchant of Norfolk, Virginia, in 1823 and two years later received a promotion to lieutenant. Farragut was born on 5th July 1801 and died on 14th August 1870. where Farragut ordered his fleet through Vicksburg fell in July 1863, and the entire Mississippi River was soon in Federal control. David G. Farragut. Admiral Farragut and his wife went on a world tour after the war. With inflation, this gift today is equal to three quarters of a million dollars. David Farragut then subdued the heavy shore batteries at Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines and defeated the confederate squadron of Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan to complete the Union victory. Farragut saw service in the War of 1812 and was captured briefly by the British. Farragut was the first person to hold the ranks of Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral, and full Admiral in the United States Navy. David Farragut was the first American to ever hold the rank of admiral and the highest ranking officer in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. After this second major victory, Congress awarded Farragut with the official Thanks of Congress. He entered the navy at the age of nine and was in command of his first ship at age 12! They moved west to Tennessee, where their son David Farragut (born James Glasgow Farragut) was born in 1801. Then the Tennessee emerged from the shelter of the fort and, after a hard fight during which it was repeatedly rammed, surrendered. Naturally, he was a Tennessean. In 1776, he immigrated to South Carolina, Anglicized his name to “George,” joined South Carolina’s continental navy, and fought the British on land and at sea in the American Revolution. Aurora Hill Plot, where Farragut and his immediate family are interred. He carried out his official duties from a sickbed at the Commandant’s Residence, before he died August 14, 1870. In December 1861, after many years of routine service, Farragut was assigned to command the Union blockading squadron in the western Gulf of Mexico with orders to enter the Mississippi River and capture New Orleans, a port through which the South was receiving much of its war supplies from abroad. David (James) Glasgow Farragut was born on month day 1801, at birth place, Tennessee, to Jordi (George) Farragut Mesquida and Elizabeth Farragut Mesquida (born Shine). Corrections? When the lead monitor Tecumseh was demolished by a mine, the leading wooden ship Brooklyn stopped in alarm, and the whole line of ships drifted in confusion under the very guns of Fort Morgan. In New Orleans, seven-year-old James Farragut left his birth family to join the Porter family. Farragut, Admiral David Glasgow, Gravesite is a National Historic Landmark located at Lot Number 1429-44, Section 14, in the Aurora Hill in Woodlawn Cemetery Plot just south of the intersection of East 233rd St. and Webster Ave. in Bronx, NY. David Glasgow Farragut (5 July 1801 – 14 August 1870) was an admiral of the US Navy during the American Civil War, the first man in the US Navy to hold the rank of Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, or Admiral.. 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