Following his assignment with Cushing, he was sent to Europe in 1848[6] to advise the German government while commanding the Boston naval yard. They had requested an American officer to assist with the organization of their navy.[7] He was sent on the recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy, John T. Mason. While there, he was offered Supreme Command of the German Navy (Reichsflotte). He declined, his son later presumed, because he didn't want to leave the US Navy and was concerned about the unsettled state of Europe at the time.[6]
In 1851, Parker was appointed "special Commissioner" to Havana, Cuba, to meet with Spanish General Captain Concha, who held 156 American prisoners who were sentenced to work in prison mines as punishment for their involvement in a failed insurrection. Parker's negotiations with Concha were made in parallel with other American diplomats, but Parker's contributions 'did no harm' in Concha's later decision to release the prisoners.[8]
Later that year, Parker was involved in an incident in Nicaragua which involved a British ship firing on an American ship and had the potential to escalate into a war between the two countries.[9] Business magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt arrived by ship in the Nicaraguan port of Greytown (a British port), but refused to pay port fees and steamed away. The British fired upon Vanderbilt's ship and escorted it back to harbor where the angered Vanderbilt paid the fee. Parker with two warships was dispatched to Greytown where he informed the British the United States would not tolerate the collection of port duties by the British Navy.[10] The British officer commanding the Royal Navy in the Caribbean (Vice-Admiral George F. Seymour) took immediate steps to defuse the crisis by admonishing the captain who had fired the shots, and sent one of his captains to meet with Parker and assure him "the interception of Vanderbilt's ship was completely unauthorized."[11]
^ ab"Parker I (Destroyer No. 48) 1913–1935". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^ abcdef"Foxhall Alexander Parker Sr". USS Constitution Museum. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^Kemp Tolley (2000). Yangtze Patrol: The U.S. Navy in China. Naval Institute Press. p. 317.
^ abcD. P (January 1899). "The Parker Family. Of Essex, the Northern Neck, &c". The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 6 (3). Virginia Historical Society: 303. JSTOR 4242168. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^David Foster Long (1988). Gold Braid and Foreign Relations. Naval Institute Press. p. 214.
^ abDaingerfield Parker (June 3, 1899). "Commodore Parker's Service with the Germans". Army and Navy Journal: 959.
^ abNathan Crosby, ed. (1858). "Parker, Comm. Foxhall A.". Annual Obituary Notices of Eminent Persons Who Have Died in the United States. For 1857. Phillips, Sampson and Company. p. 263.
^David Foster Long (1988). Gold Braid and Foreign Relations. Naval Institute Press. p. 120.
^Stephen Dando-Collins (2008). Tycoon's War: How Cornelius Vanderbilt Invaded a Country to Overthrow America's Most Famous Military Adventurer. Da Capo Press. p. 22-28.
^Stephen Dando-Collins (2008). Tycoon's War: How Cornelius Vanderbilt Invaded a Country to Overthrow America's Most Famous Military Adventurer. Da Capo Press. p. 26.
^David Foster Long (1988). Gold Braid and Foreign Relations. Naval Institute Press. p. 122-123.
^Lyon Gardiner Tyler, ed. (1915). "Parker, Foxhall Alexander". Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Vol. 2. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. pp. 205–206.
foxhall, parker, confused, with, foxhall, parker, foxhall, alexander, parker, 1788, november, 1857, officer, united, states, navy, commander, chief, east, india, squadron, navy, forces, east, commanded, home, squadron, commander, constitution, born1788westmore. Not to be confused with Foxhall A Parker Jr Foxhall Alexander Parker Sr 1788 23 November 1857 was an officer in the United States Navy 2 He was Commander in Chief of the East India Squadron ie U S Navy forces in the Far East 3 commanded the Home Squadron and was commander of the USS Constitution Foxhall A Parker Sr Born1788Westmoreland County VirginiaDiedNovember 23 1857 aged 68 69 AllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States NavyYears of service1808 1857RankCommodore 1 Commands heldUSS Constitution Home Squadron East India SquadronBattles warsWar of 1812RelationsFoxhall A Parker Jr son William Harwar Parker son Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 See also 4 ReferencesBiography editParker was born in Rock Spring Westmoreland County Virginia 4 In 1814 he married Sarah Jay Bogardus born 1794 daughter of Robert Bogardus 1771 1841 4 They had eight children 4 including Foxhall A Parker Jr 1821 1879 1 and William Harwar Parker 1826 1896 who were also prominent naval officers Career editParker joined the Navy as a midshipman on January 1 1808 2 During the War of 1812 he was captured at sea 2 He was commissioned lieutenant on March 9 1813 2 commander on March 3 1825 and captain on March 3 1835 2 In 1821 he served in USS Constitution as first lieutenant and he assumed command of her in 1842 2 Parker was appointed commander of the East Indian Squadron in 1843 While in this position he was involved with Caleb Cushing s mission to Macao where Parker and Cushing were the two of the three signatories of the Treaty of Wanghia 5 Following his assignment with Cushing he was sent to Europe in 1848 6 to advise the German government while commanding the Boston naval yard They had requested an American officer to assist with the organization of their navy 7 He was sent on the recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy John T Mason While there he was offered Supreme Command of the German Navy Reichsflotte He declined his son later presumed because he didn t want to leave the US Navy and was concerned about the unsettled state of Europe at the time 6 In 1851 Parker was appointed special Commissioner to Havana Cuba to meet with Spanish General Captain Concha who held 156 American prisoners who were sentenced to work in prison mines as punishment for their involvement in a failed insurrection Parker s negotiations with Concha were made in parallel with other American diplomats but Parker s contributions did no harm in Concha s later decision to release the prisoners 8 Later that year Parker was involved in an incident in Nicaragua which involved a British ship firing on an American ship and had the potential to escalate into a war between the two countries 9 Business magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt arrived by ship in the Nicaraguan port of Greytown a British port but refused to pay port fees and steamed away The British fired upon Vanderbilt s ship and escorted it back to harbor where the angered Vanderbilt paid the fee Parker with two warships was dispatched to Greytown where he informed the British the United States would not tolerate the collection of port duties by the British Navy 10 The British officer commanding the Royal Navy in the Caribbean Vice Admiral George F Seymour took immediate steps to defuse the crisis by admonishing the captain who had fired the shots and sent one of his captains to meet with Parker and assure him the interception of Vanderbilt s ship was completely unauthorized 11 In 1853 Parker was relieved of his duties as commodore of the Home Squadron 7 12 See also editPortal nbsp BiographyReferences edit a b Parker I Destroyer No 48 1913 1935 Naval History and Heritage Command Retrieved 17 April 2021 a b c d e f Foxhall Alexander Parker Sr USS Constitution Museum Retrieved 17 April 2021 Kemp Tolley 2000 Yangtze Patrol The U S Navy in China Naval Institute Press p 317 a b c D P January 1899 The Parker Family Of Essex the Northern Neck amp c The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 6 3 Virginia Historical Society 303 JSTOR 4242168 Retrieved 17 April 2021 David Foster Long 1988 Gold Braid and Foreign Relations Naval Institute Press p 214 a b Daingerfield Parker June 3 1899 Commodore Parker s Service with the Germans Army and Navy Journal 959 a b Nathan Crosby ed 1858 Parker Comm Foxhall A Annual Obituary Notices of Eminent Persons Who Have Died in the United States For 1857 Phillips Sampson and Company p 263 David Foster Long 1988 Gold Braid and Foreign Relations Naval Institute Press p 120 Stephen Dando Collins 2008 Tycoon s War How Cornelius Vanderbilt Invaded a Country to Overthrow America s Most Famous Military Adventurer Da Capo Press p 22 28 Stephen Dando Collins 2008 Tycoon s War How Cornelius Vanderbilt Invaded a Country to Overthrow America s Most Famous Military Adventurer Da Capo Press p 26 David Foster Long 1988 Gold Braid and Foreign Relations Naval Institute Press p 122 123 Lyon Gardiner Tyler ed 1915 Parker Foxhall Alexander Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography Vol 2 New York Lewis Historical Publishing Company pp 205 206 Military offices Preceded byLawrence Kearny Commander East India Squadron27 February 1843 21 April 1845 Succeeded byJames Biddle Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Foxhall A Parker Sr amp oldid 1187395027, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
