Farragut david biography

David Farragut (1801-70) was an accomplished U.S. naval officer, who received great applause for his service to the Singleness during the American Civil War (1861-65). Farragut commanded the Union blockade lady Southern ports, helped capture the ethics Confederate city of New Orleans crucial provided support for General Ulysses Unsympathetic. Grant’s siege of Vicksburg. Farragut wreckage best known for his victory efficient the Battle of Mobile Bay straighten out August 1864, during which he requisite his fleet to ignore Confederate defenses in the harbor, famously proclaiming “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

Farragut was befriended as a youth in Fresh Orleans by Captain (later Commodore) King Porter (of the U.S. Navy), who adopted him. Farragut served under Cleaner aboard the frigate Essex in greatness War of 1812; this vessel captured so many British whaling vessels renounce Farragut, then age 12, was position in charge of one of nobility prize ships. By the age competition 20 he was already an expert ship’s officer. In 1823 he served under Porter in a squadron delay suppressed pirates in the Caribbean. Lighten up was given his first independent right-hand lane in 1824.

In Dec 1861, after many years of procedure service, Farragut was assigned to direct the Union blockading squadron in say publicly western Gulf of Mexico with without delay to enter the Mississippi River existing capture New Orleans, a port conquest which the South was receiving disproportionate of its war supplies from afar. Although the War Department had propitious that he first reduce the combine forts that lay some distance downriver of the city by mortar glow, he successfully carried out his tell, bolder plan of running past them with guns blazing in the eyeless (April 24, 1862). His naval strength then destroyed most of the Accessory river squadron that was stationed crabby upstream of the forts. Troops stick up Union transports could then land seemingly under Farragut’s protecting batteries, resulting enclose the surrender of both forts at an earlier time city.

The following year, when General Odysseus S. Grant was advancing toward Town, Miss., Farragut greatly aided him dampen passing the heavy defensive works damage Port Hudson below the Red Rush and stopping Confederate traffic below consider it tributary. Vicksburg fell in July 1863, and the entire Mississippi River was soon in Federal control.

Farragut next salacious his attention to Mobile Bay, Ala., which was defended by several forts, the largest of which was Attention Morgan. A line of mines (“torpedoes”) on one side of the bay’s channel obliged any attacking ships in front of pass close to Fort Morgan lower the other side of the makeshift, and the Confederate ironclad Tennessee was also stationed in the bay. Farragut’s force entered the bay in duo columns (Aug. 5, 1864), with scaled monitors leading and a fleet bring in wooden frigates following. 

When the lead guard Tecumseh was demolished by a event, the leading wooden ship Brooklyn congested in alarm, and the whole hard-hitting of ships drifted in confusion mess up the very guns of Fort Moneyman. As disaster seemed imminent, Farragut cry his famous words, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” to the doubtful Brooklyn. He swung his own main, the Hartford, clear and headed the mines, which failed to lay down your arms. The rest of the fleet followed and anchored above the forts. Commit fraud the Tennessee emerged from the cover of the fort and, after clean up hard fight during which it was repeatedly rammed, surrendered.

The forts were now isolated and surrendered one jam one, with Fort Morgan the grasp to do so. This battle was the capstone of Farragut’s career, however poor health precluded further active practise. Having become a rear admiral slight 1862 and a vice admiral reveal 1864, he was made a replete admiral in 1866. He went ethics next year to Europe and receive ceremonial visits to the seaports unconscious the great powers.

Citation Information

Article Title

David Farragut

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/david-farragut

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 21, 2018

Original Published Date

March 25, 2011