James Cochran Dobbin (January 17, 1814 – August 4, 1857) was a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer who served as United States Secretary of the Navy from 1853 to 1857.
Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1814, the grandson of congressmanJames Cochran, Dobbin attended Fayetteville Academy and the William Bingham School and later went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina in 1832. While at Carolina, Dobbin distinguished himself as a member of the Philanthropic Assembly. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1835, commencing practice in Fayetteville.
In 1852, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention where he helped secure the nomination of dark horse candidateFranklin Pierce for the presidency. Pierce appointed Dobbin United States Secretary of the Navy as a reward for his work in the presidential campaign. A firm believer in a strong Navy as an insurance for peace, Dobbin instituted reforms throughout the Navy. Eighteen of the finest ships of their class in the world were built during his tenure as Navy secretary. Under his auspices, the Perry expedition to Japan was carried to a successful termination and the treaty with that country signed. He ordered U.S. Navy Lieutenant Isaac Strain to command a U.S. Darién Exploring Expedition to map and survey the Darién Gap for a Panama Canal to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
After his term as Navy secretary expired in 1857, Dobbin returned to Fayetteville where later that year he would die; he was interred at Cross Creek Cemetery in Fayetteville. He was memorialized when a ship, present at the attack of Pearl Harbor, was named in his honor the USS Dobbin (AD-3).
james, dobbin, other, people, named, james, dobbin, james, dobbin, disambiguation, james, cochran, dobbin, january, 1814, august, 1857, nineteenth, century, politician, lawyer, served, united, states, secretary, navy, from, 1853, 1857, james, dobbin22nd, unite. For other people named James Dobbin see James Dobbin disambiguation James Cochran Dobbin January 17 1814 August 4 1857 was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer who served as United States Secretary of the Navy from 1853 to 1857 James Dobbin22nd United States Secretary of the NavyIn office March 8 1853 March 4 1857PresidentFranklin PiercePreceded byJohn P KennedySucceeded byIsaac TouceyMember of the U S House of Representatives from North Carolina s 5th districtIn office March 4 1845 March 3 1847Preceded byRomulus SaundersSucceeded byAbraham VenablePersonal detailsBornJames Cochran Dobbin 1814 01 17 January 17 1814Fayetteville North Carolina U S DiedAugust 4 1857 1857 08 04 aged 43 Fayetteville North Carolina U S Political partyDemocraticEducationUniversity of North Carolina Chapel Hill BA Born in Fayetteville North Carolina in 1814 the grandson of congressman James Cochran Dobbin attended Fayetteville Academy and the William Bingham School and later went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina in 1832 While at Carolina Dobbin distinguished himself as a member of the Philanthropic Assembly He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1835 commencing practice in Fayetteville Dobbin later got involved in politics and was elected a Democrat to the twenty ninth congress serving from 1845 to 1847 He later served in the North Carolina House of Commons in 1848 1850 and 1852 also serving as speaker of the house in 1850 In 1852 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention where he helped secure the nomination of dark horse candidate Franklin Pierce for the presidency Pierce appointed Dobbin United States Secretary of the Navy as a reward for his work in the presidential campaign A firm believer in a strong Navy as an insurance for peace Dobbin instituted reforms throughout the Navy Eighteen of the finest ships of their class in the world were built during his tenure as Navy secretary Under his auspices the Perry expedition to Japan was carried to a successful termination and the treaty with that country signed He ordered U S Navy Lieutenant Isaac Strain to command a U S Darien Exploring Expedition to map and survey the Darien Gap for a Panama Canal to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans After his term as Navy secretary expired in 1857 Dobbin returned to Fayetteville where later that year he would die he was interred at Cross Creek Cemetery in Fayetteville He was memorialized when a ship present at the attack of Pearl Harbor was named in his honor the USS Dobbin AD 3 External links EditUnited States Congress James C Dobbin id D000381 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress James C Dobbin at Find a Grave This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Naval History and Heritage Command U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byRomulus M Saunders Member of the U S House of Representatives from North Carolina s 5th congressional districtMarch 4 1845 March 3 1847 Succeeded byAbraham W VenableGovernment officesPreceded byJohn P Kennedy United States Secretary of the NavyMarch 8 1853 March 4 1857 Succeeded byIsaac Toucey Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James C Dobbin amp oldid 1129781910, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
