Richard Wainwright (American Civil War naval officer) explained

Richard Wainwright
Birth Date:15 January 1817
Birth Place:Charlestown, Massachusetts, U.S.
Death Place:New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Allegiance:United States of America
Serviceyears:1831–1862
Rank:Commander
Commands:
Relations:Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II (cousin)
Richard Wainwright (son)

Commander Richard Wainwright (January 15, 1817 – August 10, 1862) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War who commanded, flagship of Admiral David G. Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron.[1]

Early life

Wainwright was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on January 15, 1817. He was the son of Robert Dewar Wainwright and Maria Montresor Auchmuty.[2] He was a cousin of Comdr. Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright.[3] [4]

Career

Wainwright was commissioned in the United States Navy on May 11, 1831. He attended the naval school at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1837–1838, and became a passed midshipman on June 15, 1837. From 1838 to 1841, he served with the United States Coast Survey in the brig Consort. He was commissioned lieutenant on September 8, 1841 and commanded the steamer in the U.S.Navy's Home Squadron from 1848 to 1849, served again on U.S. Coast Survey duty from 1851 to 1857, and cruised in the steam frigate on special service from 1857 to 1860. He was stationed at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., on ordnance duty from 1860 to 1861.

Following the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, Wainwright was promoted to commander on April 24, 1861, and commanded, flagship of Rear Admiral David G. Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron. During the passage of the forts below New Orleans, Louisiana, on the night of April 24 and 25, 1862, he performed gallant service in extinguishing a fire on Hartford while continuing the bombardment of the forts. Commended by Farragut for his actions, Wainwright later participated in the squadron's operations below Vicksburg, Mississippi, until taken ill with fever.[5]

Personal life

On March 1, 1849, Wainwright married Sarah "Sally" Franklin Bache (1824–1880) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Sophia Burrell (née Dallas) Bache and Richard Bache, Jr., who served in the Navy of the Republic of Texas and was elected to the Texas state legislature. Her maternal grandparents were Arabella Maria Smith and Alexander J. Dallas, an American statesman who served as the United States Secretary of the Treasury under President James Madison. She was the paternal granddaughter of Sarah (née Franklin) Bache and Richard Bache, and the great-granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin. Together, they were the parents of:

Wainwright died at Donaldsonville, Louisiana, on August 10, 1862, aboard USS Hartford.[6]

Legacy

Three ships have been named for Richard Wainwright, his cousins, son, and grandson.[7]

References

Notes;

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Cummings. Damon E.. Admiral Richard Wainwright and the United States Fleet. 1962. U.S. Government Printing Office. 5–6. 25 October 2017. en.
  2. Book: Hardy. Stella Pickett. Colonial Families of the Southern States of America: A History and Genealogy of Colonial Families who Settled in the Colonies Prior to the Revolution. 1911. Wright. 465. 25 October 2017. en.
  3. Web site: Wainwright family papers. archives.nypl.org. The New York Public Library. 25 October 2017. en.
  4. All Hands. 1962. 39. 25 October 2017. Bureau of Naval Personnel. en.
  5. Book: Library of Congress. Library of Congress. Foundation. Naval Historical. Naval Historical Foundation manuscript collection: a catalog. 1974. Library of Congress. 9780844401195. 55, 131. 25 October 2017. en.
  6. Book: Appendix: American Revisions and Additions to the Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th Ed. 1892. R.S. Peale Company. 25 October 2017. en.
  7. Book: Command. United States Naval Ship Systems. Naval Ship Systems Command Technical News. 1966. xxix. 25 October 2017. en.