Admiral David Glasgoe Farragut
Born: July 5, 1801
Campbell's Station, Tennessee
Died: August 14, 1870
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Midshipman: December 17, 1807
Lieutenant: January 1, 1821
Commander: 1844
Captain: 1855
Flag Officer:
Rear Admiral: July 16, 1862
Vice-Admiral: December 21, 1864
Admiral: July 25, 1866
Admiral David G. Farragut
1808: Adopted by David Porter
December 17, 1810: Commissioned as midshipman in United States Navy
1812: Changed his name to David in honor of his adopted father
1812-1815: War of 1812
August 13, 1812: Participates in capture of HMS Alert
Helped establish America's first naval base and colony in the Pacific named Madisonville
March 28, 1814: Wounded and captured while serving aboard the USS Essex at Valparaiso Bay Chile against the British
?: Promoted to Lieutenant (I am unsure about the date as I have two different dates from the sources below.)
1844: Promoted to Commander
1846-1848: Mexican-American War - Commanded the sloop of war USS Saratoga
1848-1853: Assigned to Norfolk Navy Yard as Assistant Inspector of Ordinance
September 1852 - August 1853: Testing the endurance of Naval gun batteries at Old Point
1853: Selected by Secretary of Navy, James C. Dobbin, to create Mare Island Navy Yard at Vallejo, California
September 16, 1854: Commissions the Mare Island Navy Yard
1855: Promoted to Captain
1858-1859: Commander of the Sloop of War USS Brooklyn
Regarded secession as treason
1861-1861: With the war, volunteered his services to the Union and placed on the Naval Retirement Board
January 1862: Commanded USS Hartford and the West Gulf Blockading Squadron of 17 vessels
April 1862: Commander, West Gulf Blockading Squadron
April 29, 1862: Capture of New Orleans
July 16, 1862: Promoted to Rear-Admiral - the first in the US Navy
March 14, 1863: Siege of Port Hudson - Farragut's flotilla was to pass the guns stronghold starting at 8am on March 15, 1863, but instead moved up the time at 9pm on the 14th. Without coordinating with the Union Army, the fleet was heavily damaged and the siege continued as the army was unable to take the port.
August 5, 1864: Battle of Mobile Bay
November 1864: Farragut was the commander of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron for four years. During his tenure, the fleet had more fighting and less prizes than any other blockading squadron.
December 21, 1864: Promoted to Vice-Admiral
July 25, 1866: Promoted to Admiral
1867-1868: European Squadron with the USS Franklin as his flag-ship
Remained on active duty for live - only six other naval officers were honored by this action
Boatner, Mark M. III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York David McKay, 1959. pgs 275-276
David Farragut. July 5, 2012. web. August 7, 2012.
Hickman, Kennedy. Admiral David G. Farragut: Hero of the Union Navy. About.com Military History. August 7, 2012.