James Shedden Palmer (October 13, 1810 – December 7, 1867) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Civil War. He was later promoted to rear admiral.
Palmer was commanding officer of Iroquois, which was part of the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron at the time of the attack on Fort Sumter. He returned to the United States in January 1862, where he was on leave, without orders, until March, when he was re-appointed commander of the Iroquois. He saw service as part of Farragut's Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, and was one of the captains present at the attack and capture of New Orleans, and at Farragut's attempt to do the same at Vicksburg in 1862. Promoted to captain for his role in the victory at New Orleans in July of that year, the following month he took command of Farragut's flagship Hartford. On 7 February 1863, Palmer was promoted to Commodore.[1]
In January 1864, he was made senior officer of naval forces on the Mississippi in the vicinity of New Orleans and concurrently the commanding officer of Pensacola until April of that year, when he assumed command of Monongahela in place of the Pensacola. In August he became commanding officer of the 1st Division of Ironclads, Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, with Richmond as his flagship (ironic, as Richmond was not an ironclad). He held this post until November 1864. He was then acting commander of Farragut's squadron during the latter's absence from November 1864 to February 1865. He then reverted to his previous post, which he held until May 1865. He was promoted to rear admiral on 25 July 1865.[1]
Postbellum careeredit
From May through December 1865, Palmer held administrative posts in Washington, D.C. That December he was appointed commander of the North Atlantic Squadron, with Rhode Island serving as his flagship. On July 25, 1866, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. While still commanding the North Atlantic Squadron, Rear Admiral James S. Palmer died of yellow fever at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. He was buried in New York City.
james, shedden, palmer, october, 1810, december, 1867, officer, united, states, navy, during, civil, later, promoted, rear, admiral, admiral, james, palmerborn, 1810, october, 1810elizabethtown, jerseydieddecember, 1867, 1867, aged, saint, thomas, virgin, isla. James Shedden Palmer October 13 1810 December 7 1867 was an officer in the United States Navy during the Civil War He was later promoted to rear admiral James Shedden PalmerAdmiral James S PalmerBorn 1810 10 13 October 13 1810Elizabethtown New JerseyDiedDecember 7 1867 1867 12 07 aged 57 Saint Thomas U S Virgin IslandsAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States NavyYears of service1824 1867RankRear admiralCommands heldFlirtIroquoisHartfordWest Gulf SquadronWest Indies SquadronNorth Atlantic SquadronBattles warsMexican American WarAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Biography 2 Ranks held 3 Civil War service 4 Postbellum career 5 Namesake 6 See also 7 Bibliography 8 Further reading 9 ReferencesBiography editPalmer was born at Elizabethtown New Jersey He entered the United States Navy on August 26 1824 as Ship s Boy aboard John Adams Palmer was appointed midshipman January 1 1825 He commanded Flirt during the Mexican American War and Iroquois and Hartford during the Civil War He commanded the Naval Station at New Orleans and the West Gulf Squadron during 1864 Appointed to command the West Indies Squadron in 1865 he was commissioned rear admiral on July 25 1866 and died at St Thomas Virgin Islands Ranks held editShip s Boy August 26 1824 Midshipman January 1 1825 Passed Midshipman June 4 1831 Lieutenant December 17 1836 Commander September 14 1855 Captain July 16 1862 Commodore February 7 1863 Rear Admiral July 25 1866 1 Civil War service editPalmer was commanding officer of Iroquois which was part of the U S Mediterranean Squadron at the time of the attack on Fort Sumter He returned to the United States in January 1862 where he was on leave without orders until March when he was re appointed commander of the Iroquois He saw service as part of Farragut s Western Gulf Blockading Squadron and was one of the captains present at the attack and capture of New Orleans and at Farragut s attempt to do the same at Vicksburg in 1862 Promoted to captain for his role in the victory at New Orleans in July of that year the following month he took command of Farragut s flagship Hartford On 7 February 1863 Palmer was promoted to Commodore 1 In January 1864 he was made senior officer of naval forces on the Mississippi in the vicinity of New Orleans and concurrently the commanding officer of Pensacola until April of that year when he assumed command of Monongahela in place of the Pensacola In August he became commanding officer of the 1st Division of Ironclads Western Gulf Blockading Squadron with Richmond as his flagship ironic as Richmond was not an ironclad He held this post until November 1864 He was then acting commander of Farragut s squadron during the latter s absence from November 1864 to February 1865 He then reverted to his previous post which he held until May 1865 He was promoted to rear admiral on 25 July 1865 1 Postbellum career editFrom May through December 1865 Palmer held administrative posts in Washington D C That December he was appointed commander of the North Atlantic Squadron with Rhode Island serving as his flagship On July 25 1866 he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral While still commanding the North Atlantic Squadron Rear Admiral James S Palmer died of yellow fever at St Thomas Virgin Islands He was buried in New York City Namesake editThe destroyer USS Palmer DD 161 was named for him See also edit nbsp American Civil War portalBibliography of American Civil War naval history Union Navy Confederate NavyBibliography editTucker Spencer 2010 The Civil War Naval Encyclopedia Volume 1 ABC CLIO p 829 ISBN 978 1 59884 338 5 UrlFurther reading editSpears John Randolph 1905 David G Farragut G W Jacobs Philadelphia p 407 UrlReferences edit a b c Tucker 2010 p 495 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here Military officesPreceded bynone Commander in Chief North Atlantic Squadron1 November 1865 7 December 1867 Succeeded byHenry K Hoff Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Shedden Palmer amp oldid 1145089785, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
