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Louis M. Goldsborough

Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough (February 18, 1805 – February 20, 1877) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He held several sea commands during the Civil War, including that of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He was also noted for contributions to nautical scientific research.

Louis M. Goldsborough
Nickname(s)"Old Guts"[1]
Born(1805-02-18)February 18, 1805
Washington, D.C.
DiedFebruary 20, 1877(1877-02-20) (aged 72)
Washington, D.C.
Allegiance United States of America
Union
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1812–1873
Rank Rear admiral
Commands heldBrazil Squadron
North Atlantic Blockading Squadron
European Squadron
Battles/warsAegean Campaign

Seminole Wars

Mexican War

American Civil War

RelationsJohn R. Goldsborough (brother)
Other workSuperintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy
Signature
Louis M. Goldsborough

His younger brother, John R. Goldsborough, was also a U.S. Navy officer who served during the Civil War and who later became a commodore.

Biography edit

Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough was born in Washington, D.C., in 1805, the son of a chief clerk at the United States Department of the Navy.[2] He was appointed midshipman in the United States Navy by Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton on June 28, 1812. At the time of his appointment, he was seven years old, and Goldsborough did not actually begin serving until February 13, 1816, when he reported for duty at the Washington Navy Yard.

In 1831 Goldsborough married Elizabeth Wirt, daughter of William Wirt, U.S. Attorney General from 1817 to 1829. Together, they had three children: William, Louis, and Elizabeth.

In 1833, after helping lead German emigrants to Wirt's Estates near Monticello, Florida, Goldsborough took leave from the Navy to command a steamboat expedition, and later mounted volunteers in the Seminole War.

Naval service edit

During the Aegean Anti-Piracy Campaign, Goldsborough led a four-boat night expedition from Porpoise in October 1827 to rescue British merchant brig Comet from Mediterranean pirates. In 1830 he was appointed first officer in charge of the newly created Depot of Charts and Instruments at Washington, the crude beginning of the United States Hydrographic Office. Goldsborough suggested creation of the depot and initiated the collection and centralization of the instruments, books and charts that were scattered among several Navy yards. After two years he was relieved by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes.

After cruising the Pacific in the frigate United States, he participated in the bombardment of Veracruz in Ohio during the Mexican–American War. He served consecutively as: commander of a detachment in the expedition against Tuxpan; senior officer of a commission which explored California and Oregon (1849–1850); superintendent of the United States Naval Academy (1853–1857); and commander of the Brazil Squadron (1859–1861).

Civil War service edit

Goldsborough was given command of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron in September 1861, relieving Flag Officer Silas H. Stringham. In October of that year the Atlantic squadron was split into the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and South Atlantic Blockading Squadron; Goldsborough took command of the North squadron, and Flag Officer Samuel Francis DuPont assumed command of the South squadron. On January 3, 1862, both officers were promoted to the newly created rank of Flag Officer (equivalent to the rank of Commodore which would be created 5 months later). During his command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which he commanded from its inception to September 1862, he led his fleet off North Carolina, where in cooperation with troops under General Ambrose Burnside, he captured Roanoke Island and destroyed a small Confederate fleet.

Peninsula campaign edit

After aiding the capture of Roanoke Island, Goldsborough and his command were sent to Hampton Roads at the request of Major General George B. McClellan to help protect Union forces landing on the Virginia Peninsula at the start of the Peninsula Campaign. Goldsborough refused to be placed under McClellan's direct command, telling Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Vasa Fox that he would instead cooperate with McClellan. After sending six of his vessels to attack the Gloucester Point batteries, Goldsborough withdrew them, saying the area was too dangerous for his ships—even though none of them sustained any damage—and fearful of a return appearance by CSS Virginia, which had laid waste to a Union naval force in Hampton Roads while Goldsborough was at Roanoke Island.[3]

At the start of the Seven Days Battles, Goldsborough was asked again, this time by President Abraham Lincoln, to come to McClellan's aid. Goldsborough continued to hold back his fleet, forcing Lincoln to accept a recommendation by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles to detach ships under Goldsborough's command and place them under Commodore Charles Wilkes, who as a lieutenant had relieved Goldsborough at the Depot of Charts and Instruments (see above), and who would report directly to Welles. This move, coupled with newspaper accounts critical of the Navy, so seriously hurt Goldsborough that he requested that he be relieved. He was promoted to rear admiral in August 1862, and in September passed command of the squadron to Acting Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee. Goldsborough would finish the war performing administrative duties in Washington, D.C.[4]

Post-Civil War service and death edit

In June 1865, Goldsborough became the first commander of the European Squadron, formerly the Mediterranean Squadron. In 1868, Goldsborough returned to Washington and took command of the Washington Navy Yard, a position he held until he retired in 1873.

Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough died in Washington, D.C., on February 20, 1877.[5]

Dates of rank edit

  • Midshipman – June 18, 1812
  • Lieutenant – January 13, 1825
  • Commander – September 8, 1841
  • Captain – September 14, 1855
  • Flag Officer – January 3, 1862
  • Rear Admiral – July 16, 1862
  • Retired List – October 6, 1873
  • Died – February 20, 1877

Namesakes edit

The United States Navy has named three ships USS Goldsborough in honor of Admiral Goldsborough.

See also edit

References edit

  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
  1. ^ Browning, Robert M. (July 30, 1993). From Cape Charles to Cape Fear: The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron During the Civil War. University of Alabama Press. p. 18. ISBN 9780817306793. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. II. James T. White & Company. 1921. p. 107. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Symonds, Craig (2008). Lincoln And His Admirals. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 143–144. ISBN 978-0-19-531022-1.
  4. ^ Symonds, Craig (2008). Lincoln And His Admirals. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 172–174. ISBN 978-0-19-531022-1.
  5. ^ "Obituary: Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Washington. February 21, 1877. p. 4. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
Academic offices
Preceded by Superintendent of United States Naval Academy
1853-1857
Succeeded by

louis, goldsborough, louis, malesherbes, goldsborough, february, 1805, february, 1877, rear, admiral, united, states, navy, during, american, civil, held, several, commands, during, civil, including, that, north, atlantic, blockading, squadron, also, noted, co. Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough February 18 1805 February 20 1877 was a rear admiral in the United States Navy during the American Civil War He held several sea commands during the Civil War including that of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron He was also noted for contributions to nautical scientific research Louis M GoldsboroughNickname s Old Guts 1 Born 1805 02 18 February 18 1805Washington D C DiedFebruary 20 1877 1877 02 20 aged 72 Washington D C Allegiance United States of AmericaUnionService wbr branch United States NavyYears of service1812 1873RankRear admiralCommands heldBrazil SquadronNorth Atlantic Blockading SquadronEuropean SquadronBattles warsAegean Campaign Battle of Doro Passage Seminole WarsMexican War Siege of Veracruz American Civil War Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries Battle of Roanoke Island Battle of Elizabeth City Battle of New Berne Battle of Fort Macon Peninsula CampaignRelationsJohn R Goldsborough brother Other workSuperintendent of the U S Naval AcademySignature Louis M Goldsborough His younger brother John R Goldsborough was also a U S Navy officer who served during the Civil War and who later became a commodore Contents 1 Biography 2 Naval service 2 1 Civil War service 2 1 1 Peninsula campaign 3 Post Civil War service and death 4 Dates of rank 5 Namesakes 6 See also 7 ReferencesBiography editLouis Malesherbes Goldsborough was born in Washington D C in 1805 the son of a chief clerk at the United States Department of the Navy 2 He was appointed midshipman in the United States Navy by Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton on June 28 1812 At the time of his appointment he was seven years old and Goldsborough did not actually begin serving until February 13 1816 when he reported for duty at the Washington Navy Yard In 1831 Goldsborough married Elizabeth Wirt daughter of William Wirt U S Attorney General from 1817 to 1829 Together they had three children William Louis and Elizabeth In 1833 after helping lead German emigrants to Wirt s Estates near Monticello Florida Goldsborough took leave from the Navy to command a steamboat expedition and later mounted volunteers in the Seminole War Naval service editDuring the Aegean Anti Piracy Campaign Goldsborough led a four boat night expedition from Porpoise in October 1827 to rescue British merchant brig Comet from Mediterranean pirates In 1830 he was appointed first officer in charge of the newly created Depot of Charts and Instruments at Washington the crude beginning of the United States Hydrographic Office Goldsborough suggested creation of the depot and initiated the collection and centralization of the instruments books and charts that were scattered among several Navy yards After two years he was relieved by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes After cruising the Pacific in the frigate United States he participated in the bombardment of Veracruz in Ohio during the Mexican American War He served consecutively as commander of a detachment in the expedition against Tuxpan senior officer of a commission which explored California and Oregon 1849 1850 superintendent of the United States Naval Academy 1853 1857 and commander of the Brazil Squadron 1859 1861 Civil War service edit Goldsborough was given command of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron in September 1861 relieving Flag Officer Silas H Stringham In October of that year the Atlantic squadron was split into the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and South Atlantic Blockading Squadron Goldsborough took command of the North squadron and Flag Officer Samuel Francis DuPont assumed command of the South squadron On January 3 1862 both officers were promoted to the newly created rank of Flag Officer equivalent to the rank of Commodore which would be created 5 months later During his command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron which he commanded from its inception to September 1862 he led his fleet off North Carolina where in cooperation with troops under General Ambrose Burnside he captured Roanoke Island and destroyed a small Confederate fleet Peninsula campaign edit After aiding the capture of Roanoke Island Goldsborough and his command were sent to Hampton Roads at the request of Major General George B McClellan to help protect Union forces landing on the Virginia Peninsula at the start of the Peninsula Campaign Goldsborough refused to be placed under McClellan s direct command telling Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Vasa Fox that he would instead cooperate with McClellan After sending six of his vessels to attack the Gloucester Point batteries Goldsborough withdrew them saying the area was too dangerous for his ships even though none of them sustained any damage and fearful of a return appearance by CSS Virginia which had laid waste to a Union naval force in Hampton Roads while Goldsborough was at Roanoke Island 3 At the start of the Seven Days Battles Goldsborough was asked again this time by President Abraham Lincoln to come to McClellan s aid Goldsborough continued to hold back his fleet forcing Lincoln to accept a recommendation by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles to detach ships under Goldsborough s command and place them under Commodore Charles Wilkes who as a lieutenant had relieved Goldsborough at the Depot of Charts and Instruments see above and who would report directly to Welles This move coupled with newspaper accounts critical of the Navy so seriously hurt Goldsborough that he requested that he be relieved He was promoted to rear admiral in August 1862 and in September passed command of the squadron to Acting Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee Goldsborough would finish the war performing administrative duties in Washington D C 4 Post Civil War service and death editIn June 1865 Goldsborough became the first commander of the European Squadron formerly the Mediterranean Squadron In 1868 Goldsborough returned to Washington and took command of the Washington Navy Yard a position he held until he retired in 1873 Rear Admiral Louis M Goldsborough died in Washington D C on February 20 1877 5 Dates of rank editMidshipman June 18 1812 Lieutenant January 13 1825 Commander September 8 1841 Captain September 14 1855 Flag Officer January 3 1862 Rear Admiral July 16 1862 Retired List October 6 1873 Died February 20 1877Namesakes editThe United States Navy has named three ships USS Goldsborough in honor of Admiral Goldsborough See also edit nbsp American Civil War portal List of superintendents of the United States Naval AcademyReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Browning Robert M July 30 1993 From Cape Charles to Cape Fear The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron During the Civil War University of Alabama Press p 18 ISBN 9780817306793 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Google Books The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Vol II James T White amp Company 1921 p 107 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Google Books Symonds Craig 2008 Lincoln And His Admirals New York Oxford University Press pp 143 144 ISBN 978 0 19 531022 1 Symonds Craig 2008 Lincoln And His Admirals New York Oxford University Press pp 172 174 ISBN 978 0 19 531022 1 Obituary Rear Admiral Louis M Goldsborough The Philadelphia Inquirer Washington February 21 1877 p 4 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Newspapers com Academic offices Preceded byCornelius K Stribling Superintendent of United States Naval Academy1853 1857 Succeeded byGeorge S Blake Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Louis M Goldsborough amp oldid 1224718902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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