George Parker Upshur (8 March 1799 – 3 November 1852) was a career officer in the United States Navy and superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy (1847-1850).[1]
Born in Northampton County, Virginia, among the dozen children borne to plantation owner and politician Littleton Upshur. His elder brother Abel P. Upshur inherited the family plantation and continued their father's political involvement, also serving in the Virginia House of Delegates and dying during a demonstration accident as U.S. Secretary of the Navy in 1842. His nephew John Henry Upshur (1823-1889) also became a career naval officer, and rose to the rank of rear admiral. As a midshipman, J.H. Upshur participated in the Mexican American War, despite his family's generations of slave ownership, served on a frigate which helped suppress the trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1855, and remained loyal to the Union during the U.S. Civil War, during which he took part in engagements at Fort Fisher as well as participated in the blockading squadron.
Careeredit
George Upshur entered the United States Navy as midshipman on April 23, 1818; was promoted to lieutenant, March 3, 1827, and served in the USS Lexington, on the Brazil station, 1832–34, against the pirates infesting the Falkland Islands. He commanded the brig USS Truxtun on her first cruise in the Mediterranean in 1843-44, and from 1844 until 1847 served in the receiving ship at Norfolk, Virginia. He was commissioned commander, February 27, 1847, and from that year until 1850 was superintendent of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.
On July 13, 1852, Commander Ushur took command of the sloop-of-war USS Levant, at Norfolk. Levant joined the United States squadron in the Mediterranean, but Upshur died on board his ship, in the harbor of Spezia, Italy, November 3, 1852.
^Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (November 1969). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Caserta" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
The Presbyterian Magazine edited by Cortlandt Van Rensselaer, Vol iv, 1854, p. 545.
george, upshur, george, parker, upshur, march, 1799, november, 1852, career, officer, united, states, navy, superintendent, naval, academy, 1847, 1850, birth, namegeorge, parker, upshurborn, 1799, march, 1799northampton, county, virginia, diednovember, 1852, 1. George Parker Upshur 8 March 1799 3 November 1852 was a career officer in the United States Navy and superintendent of the U S Naval Academy 1847 1850 1 George P UpshurBirth nameGeorge Parker UpshurBorn 1799 03 08 March 8 1799Northampton County Virginia U S DiedNovember 3 1852 1852 11 03 aged 53 USS LevantAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branch United States NavyYears of service1818 1852RankCommanderCommands heldUnited States NavyBattles warsMexican American War Contents 1 Early and family life 2 Career 3 Legacy 4 ReferencesEarly and family life editBorn in Northampton County Virginia among the dozen children borne to plantation owner and politician Littleton Upshur His elder brother Abel P Upshur inherited the family plantation and continued their father s political involvement also serving in the Virginia House of Delegates and dying during a demonstration accident as U S Secretary of the Navy in 1842 His nephew John Henry Upshur 1823 1889 also became a career naval officer and rose to the rank of rear admiral As a midshipman J H Upshur participated in the Mexican American War despite his family s generations of slave ownership served on a frigate which helped suppress the trans Atlantic slave trade in 1855 and remained loyal to the Union during the U S Civil War during which he took part in engagements at Fort Fisher as well as participated in the blockading squadron Career editGeorge Upshur entered the United States Navy as midshipman on April 23 1818 was promoted to lieutenant March 3 1827 and served in the USS Lexington on the Brazil station 1832 34 against the pirates infesting the Falkland Islands He commanded the brig USS Truxtun on her first cruise in the Mediterranean in 1843 44 and from 1844 until 1847 served in the receiving ship at Norfolk Virginia He was commissioned commander February 27 1847 and from that year until 1850 was superintendent of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis On July 13 1852 Commander Ushur took command of the sloop of war USS Levant at Norfolk Levant joined the United States squadron in the Mediterranean but Upshur died on board his ship in the harbor of Spezia Italy November 3 1852 Legacy editHis home from 1836 to 1847 was Caserta near Eastville Virginia It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and delisted in 2001 after being destroyed by fire in 1975 2 3 References edit Appleton s Cyclopedia Vol VII p 214 National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff November 1969 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Caserta PDF Virginia Department of Historic Resources The Presbyterian Magazine edited by Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Vol iv 1854 p 545 Virginia Biographical EncyclopediaMilitary officesPreceded byFranklin Buchanan Superintendent of United States Naval Academy1847 1850 Succeeded byCornelius Stribling Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George P Upshur amp oldid 1063995540, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
