George Brown

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Rear Admiral George Brown (June 19, 1835 – June 29, 1913) served in the United States Navy.

Life & Career

Brown was born in Indiana and was appointed as a Midshipman from the same state on 5 February, 1849. He was promoted to the rank of Master on 15 September, 1855, and to the rank of Lieutenant on 2 June, 1856.[1]

In early 1860 Brown was assigned to bring a captured African slave ship back to the United States and overcame an attempted mutiny by the ship's crew to do so.[2]

Civil War

At the outbreak of the Civil War Brown served on side-wheel frigate Powhatan - decades later he reportedly claimed to have fired the Navy's first shots of the war while aboard. (He also claimed to have fired the Navy's last shots of the war in 1865.)[3]

In February 1862 he was appointed first commanding officer of steamer Octorora and later that year became the first commanding officer of river gunboat Indianola. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 16 July, 1862. When Indianola was captured by Confederate he became a Prisoner of War from February to May, 1863.[4][5][6][7]

After being exchanged, Brown was appointed to command gunboat Itasca. In this position he saw action at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864, capturing a Confederate gunboat during the battle.[8][9]

Post-War Career

Brown was promoted to the rank of Commander on 25 July, 1866. In September, 1870, he was appointed to command side-wheel steamer Michigan on the Great Lakes, serving here until October, 1873. This was followed by three years as Ordnance Officer at the Boston Navy Yard.[10][11][12][13][14]

Brown was promoted to the rank of Captain on 25 April, 1877.[15] From 1878 to 1881 he commanded screw sloops Alaska.[16][17]

Brown began the first of two tours as Commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard in March, 1886, and was promoted to the rank of Commodore on 4 September, 1887.[18] He was appointed to command the Pacific Station on 25 January, 1890, with the acting rank of Rear Admiral.[19]

Brown was relieved of his seagoing command and returned to the Norfolk Navy Yard for his second tour as Commandant. He was promoted to the permanent rank of Rear Admiral on 27 September, 1893. He was placed on the Retired List due to age on 19 June, 1897 on account of age.[20][21] Brown died in Indianapolis shortly after his 78th birthday.[22]

See Also

Bibliography

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Ordnance Officer, Navy Yard, Boston
Oct, 1873[23] – 1876[24]
Succeeded by
Robert L. Phythian
Preceded by
?
Captain of U.S.S. Alaska
1878[25] – 1881
Succeeded by
George E. Belknap
Preceded by
William K. Mayo
Commandant, Navy Yard, Norfolk
12 Mar, 1886[26] – 31 Dec, 1889[27]
Succeeded by
Aaron W. Weaver
Preceded by
Lewis A. Kimberly
as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet
Commanding Pacific Station
25 Jan, 1890[28] – 9 Jan, 1893[29]
Succeeded by
Albert Kautz
Preceded by
Aaron W. Weaver
Commandant, Navy Yard, Norfolk
29 Jul, 1893[30] – Apr, 1897[31]
Succeeded by
Norman H. Farquhar

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1896. pp. 4-5.
  2. Baltimore Sun 30 March, 1860 p. 4.
  3. Evening Star (Washington, DC) 29 June, 1897 p. 8.
  4. Register of Officers, 1896. p. 5.
  5. New York Daily Herald 28 February, 1862 p. 8.
  6. New York Daily Herald 24 October, 1862 p. 1.
  7. Register of Officers, 1863. pp. 28, 200.
  8. Register of Officers, 1864. p. 28.
  9. Register of Officers, 1865. pp. 28, 262.
  10. Register of Officers, 1896. p. 5.
  11. Register of Officers, 1871. pp. 16-17.
  12. Register of Officers, July 1873. p. 10.
  13. Register of Officers, 1874. pp. 16-17.
  14. Register of Officers, 1877. p. 148.
  15. Register of Officers, 1896. p. 5.
  16. Register of Officers, 1879. pp. 14-15. 149.
  17. Register of Officers, 1881. pp. 14-15, 153.
  18. Register of Officers, 1896. p. 5.
  19. Register of Officers, 1892. p. 4.
  20. Register of Officers, 1896. p. 5.
  21. Register of Officers, 1898. p. 108.
  22. Register of Officers, 1914. p. 224.
  23. Register of Officers, 1874. pp. 16-17, 142.
  24. Register of Officers, 1877. p. 148.
  25. Register of Officers, 1879. pp. 14-15.
  26. Register of Officers, 1889. p. 4, 147.
  27. Register of Officers, 1890. p. 147.
  28. Register of Officers, 1891. pp. 4-5, 139.
  29. The San Francisco Call 12 January, 1893 p. 2.
  30. Register of Officers, 1896. pp. 4-5.
  31. Records of Living Officers (6th ed). p. 32.