Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/64

 FARRAGUT

FARRAGUT

and philogenj-. For his thesis on this subject and on examination, he received the degree of A.M. in 1894. In September, 1894, he returned to Princeton and was for two years engaged in resident graduate worli in biology and geology, devoting especial attention to paleontology, and receiving the degree of Sc.D. in 1896. He was assistant in paleontology at Princeton imiver- sity, 1896-98, and on Dee. 1, 1898, was appointed assistant in zoology at the New York state mu- seum. He was married Oct. 24, 1894, to Luella, daughter of Peter and Cordelia Bergen. His doctor's thesis was published in Proceedings of the American Philosophical society, Vol. XXXV., pp. 147-7.5, May 15, 1896.

FARRAQUT, David Glasgow, naval officer, was born at Campbell's Station near Knoxville, Tenn., July 5, 1801; son of Maj. George and Elizabeth (Shine) Farragut; and grandson of Antonio and Juana (Mesquida) Ferragut, and of John and Ellenor (Mclven) Shine. His fatlier, of vmmixed Spanish blood and a descend- ant of the renowned Don Pedro Ferragut, who served under James I., King of Ar- agon, was born in Ciudadella, on the Island of Minorca, in the Mediterranean, Sept. 29, 1755, and came to America in 1776, wiiere he served in the Revolution and the war of 1812. He first settled in Eastern Tennessee, removing thence to Louisiana. He was muster-master for the Tennessee militia, defending the frontier settlers from the Indians; major of cavah-y. and subsequently a navigator on Lake Poncliartrain, La. He was married to Elizabeth Sliine, who was born near Kinston, N.C., and was of Scotch descent. In 1808 David, then a lad of seven years, was adopted by Capt. David Porter, a friend of his fatlier, who took him from New Orleans on board the bomb-ketch Vesuvius to Washington. There the lad attended school and was promised a midshipman's warrant by Paul Hamilton, secretary of the navy, when lie attained the age of ten years. He received the warrant. Dec. 1", 1810, and went on his first cruise on board the Essex, Captain Porter, July, 1811. Returning in a few months he was ordered to the naval school at Newport, R.I., for the winter. The declaration of war with Great Britain put an end to his school duties and he was ordered to the Essex bound on a cruise to the South Pacific. He detected insubordination and

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prevented a threatened mutiny of prisoners con- fined on the Essex, and in October, 1812, although only twelve years old, was prize master of the recaptured American whaler Bnrchnj, bringing the vessel with her crew safely into the harbor of Valparaiso. When the Essex capitulated to the Pluebe and Cherub, March 28, 1814, he was made prisoner with Captain Porter and upon being exchanged accompanied his foster-father to New York. He attended a classical and military school at Chester, Pa., 1814-15, and joined the Mediterranean squadron in 1815 as aid to Capt. ■W. M. Crane, and in 1816 was on board the 2Iace- donian. He received nine months' tuition in English literature and mathematics from the Rev. Charles Folsom, U.S. consul at Tunis. In 1819 lie was made acting lieutenant on board the Shark, sailed for Malta, spent the latter part of the winter at Messina, and was ordered home for his examination. He took passage in the Ameri- can, a merchantman, and on beuig chased by a supposed pirate he took command of the shii>, mustered the ci'ew and prepared the defence. He landed in America, Nov. 20. 1820, and passed his examination for a commission, though not to his own satisfaction. In May, 1822, he was ordered to sea in the slooi3-of-war John Adams and made a short cruise in the Gulf of Mexico and to Vera Cruz, returning in December, 1822. He was then ordered to the Greyhound of Commodore Porter's fleet, operating against pirates in the Caribbean sea, and was actively engaged for six months, holding command for a short time of one of the fleet schooners. On Sept. 24, 1828, he was married to Susan C, daughter of Jordan and Fanny Marchant of Norfolk, Va., and did not join a ship until two years later, owing probably to the fact that his health was very delicate. In August, 1825, he was promoted lieutenant anil ordered to the frigate lirandyu-ine, Capt. Charles Morris, which conveyed Lafayette to France, then sailed to England and thence to the Medi- terranean, returning to New York in May. 1826. He attended lectures at Yale college in 1826 and established and conducted a naval school on the Alert, Norfolk navy yard, 1826-27, with gratifying results. He was on the Vandalia in Brazilian waters, 1828-29; and in December, 18'.29. %\as ordered home on account of the weakness of his eyes. He remained in Norfolk nearly three years and in December, 1832, was ordered to sea in the Xatchez. as first lieutenant. He was sta- tioned in Charleston harbor during the nullifica tion troubles in 1833; commanded the Boxer, on the Brazilian station, 1834; and was on court- martial duty at Norfolk and in Washington. l,S34-38. In 1838 he cruised in the Constellation- for two months and in Au.gust was given com mand of the sloop Erie, which sailed at once to