Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/215

 McNAIR

McNAMARA

and the capture of New Orleans in April, 1862 ; landed at Baton Rouge and Natchez, La., and demanded their surrender in May, 1862 ; took part in the engagements at Grand Gulf, Vicks- burg, and the destruction of the ram Arkansas^

and passed the Vicks- burg batteries both ways in June, July and August, 1862. He served on the Juniata from Oc- tober, 1862, till Feb- ruary, 1863 ; on the Seminole, February to August, 1863, and on the Pensacola, August, 1863, to April, 1864, and saw service on the latter vessel on the Missis- sippi river. He was promoted lieutenant- commander, April 20, 1864 ; was assigned to the Juniata on the North Atlantic squadron, as executive officer in May, 1864, and served in the engagements of Fort Fisher, Dec. 24 and 25, 1864, and Jan. 13-15, 1865, and received special men- tion for his conduct previous to the surrender. He was on the Brazil squadron, 1865-66, and executive officer of the flagship Brooklyn of the Brazil squadron, 1866-67. He was an instructor at the U.S. Naval academy, 1867-68 ; executive officer of the practice-ship Macedonian during the summer of 1868, and executive officer of the flagship Franklin of the European squadron, 1868-70. He was the equipment officer at the Philadelphia navy yard, 1870-71 ; head of the de- partment of seamanship at the Naval academy, 1871-75 ; and was promoted commander, Jan. 29, 1872. He commanded the Yantic, April to July, 1875, and the Kearsarge, 1875-78, both on the Asiatic station, and the Portsmouth on the Euro- pean station, February to August, 1878. He was commandant of cadets at the U.S. Naval academy, 1878-82, on duty at the navy department, 1882- 83, serving on the court of inquiry on the loss of the Jeannette and as a member of the board of examiners of officers. He was promoted captain, Oct. 30, 1883, was stationed at Mare Island navy yard as captain of the yard, 1883-86 ; commanded the flagship Omaha of the Asiatic squadron, 1887-90, and was superintendent of the naval ob- servatory, 1890-95. He was promoted commodore, May 10, 1895 ; commanded the U.S. naval force on the Asiatic station, 1895-98 ; was promoted rear-admiral, July 3, 1898, and was superintendent of the U.S. Naval academy from 1898 to 1900, when he was relieved from the duties on account of ill health. He was married Oct. 9, 1862, to

Clara, only daughter of Janaes and Mary Sellers (Hobson) Warren, and their son, Frederick Val- lette, Jr., was appointed a cadet at the U.S. Naval academy, June 24, 1899. Admiral McNair died in Washington, D.C., Nov. 28, 1900.

McNAIR, John, representative, was born in Bucks county. Pa., in 1800 ; son of John and Martha (Keith) McNair of Southampton, Pa.; grandson of Samuel and Mary (Mann) McNair, and a descendant of Samuel and Anna (Murdock) McNair, who emigrated from Ireland to America with their children in 1732, and settled in Upper Wakefield, Bucks county. Pa. The family was Scotch and settled in Carrickfergus, Ireland, when driven from home by religious persecution. John McNair became a resident of Norristown, Pa., and was a Democratic representative from the fifth district of Pennsylvania in the 32d and 33d congresses, 1831-35. He was married to Mary Yerkes. He died at Evansport, Prince William county, Va., Aug. 7, 1861.

McNAMARA, John, educator, was born in Dromore, county Down, Ireland, Dec. 27, 1824. He was brought by his parents to the United States about 1830. When a young lad he came under the notice of the Rev. William Augustus Muhlenberg, D.D., who took him into his own home and regarded him as a son. He was edu- cated at St. Paul's college, Flushing, L.I., and matriculated at the General Theological seminary in New York city in the class of 1850, but did not graduate. He was admitted to the diaconate and was assistant to Dr. Muhlenberg at the Church of the Holy Communion, 1848-49, and was ordained priest in June, 1849. He was mar- ried, Nov. 18, 1852, to Sarah, daughter of Edward and Caroline (Lawrence) Gould of New York city. He chose a missionary life and in response to an appeal by Bishop Kemper he went west and labored successfully in Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin and Illinois. He founded Christ church, St. Joseph, Mo. ; the Church of the Holy Communion, Lake Geneva, Wis., and Christ church, Waukegan, 111., and organized mission stations. He was in Kenosha at the outbreak of the civil war, and was made chaplain of the 1st Wisconsin regiment, serving for three years, when he returned to his parish. He was rector of parishes in White Water and La Crosse, and while at the latter place was called in August, 1870, by Bishop Clarkson, to take the presidency of Nebraska college at Nebraska city, a church institution, which position he held, 1870-75. In 1875 he returned to New York at the request of Dr. Muhlenberg and was assistant at St. Luke's hospital and rector at St. Johnsland, L.I., N.Y., until shortly after Dr. Muhlenberg's death when he returned to Nebraska (1878) and with the exception of a few months in New Mexico,