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David Conner (naval officer)
Encyclopedia
Commodore David Conner was an officer of the United States Navy
, whose service included the War of 1812
and the Mexican-American War. During the 1840s, he served on the Board of Navy Commissioners
and as the first Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair.
Conner was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. After youthful employment in Philadelphia
, he became a U.S. Navy Midshipman
on 16 January 1809 and during the next few years served in the frigate
.
During the War of 1812
Conner served in during her chase of and her actions with in February 1813 and the March 1815 capture of , during the latter of which he was wounded. For a time early in the conflict, he was a prisoner of war. He received promotion to Lieutenant in July 1813.
In the decade following the war, Lieutenant Conner served in the Pacific, had shore duty at Philadelphia and commanded the schooner . Attaining the rank of Commander in March 1825, he was Commanding Officer of the sloops of war and before receiving promotion to Captain in 1835.
He served as a Navy Commissioner
in 1841 and 1842, and upon the establishment of the bureau system
in the Navy became the first Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair.
Conner was given the title Commodore, but his official naval rank remained unchanged. The title "commodore" added nothing to his pay or to his permanent rank of captain. Not until 1862, six years after Conner's death in 1856, did the title commodore come to signify a higher grade or an increased salary.
During the Mexican-American War, Commodore Conner commanded the Home Squadron
which operated in the Gulf of Mexico
in 1846 and 1847 and executed a brilliant amphibious assault
against the city of Veracruz.
Leaving seagoing service soon afterwards, Conner subsequently commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Ill health, however, kept him from seeing much other active employment. Commodore Conner died at Philadelphia on 20 March 1856.
Two destroyer
s of the Navy have been named in his honor.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, whose service included the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and the Mexican-American War. During the 1840s, he served on the Board of Navy Commissioners
Board of Navy Commissioners
The Board of Naval Commissioners was a United States Navy administrative body in existence from 1815 to 1842, with responsibility for the Navy's material support. The three-member Board was created as part of an expansion of the U.S. Navy Department at the end of the War of 1812. The system was...
and as the first Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair.
Conner was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. After youthful employment in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, he became a U.S. Navy Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on 16 January 1809 and during the next few years served in the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
Conner served in during her chase of and her actions with in February 1813 and the March 1815 capture of , during the latter of which he was wounded. For a time early in the conflict, he was a prisoner of war. He received promotion to Lieutenant in July 1813.
In the decade following the war, Lieutenant Conner served in the Pacific, had shore duty at Philadelphia and commanded the schooner . Attaining the rank of Commander in March 1825, he was Commanding Officer of the sloops of war and before receiving promotion to Captain in 1835.
He served as a Navy Commissioner
Board of Navy Commissioners
The Board of Naval Commissioners was a United States Navy administrative body in existence from 1815 to 1842, with responsibility for the Navy's material support. The three-member Board was created as part of an expansion of the U.S. Navy Department at the end of the War of 1812. The system was...
in 1841 and 1842, and upon the establishment of the bureau system
United States Navy bureau system
The "bureau system" of the United States Navy was the Department of the Navy's material-support organization from 1842 through 1966. The bureau chiefs were largely autonomous, reporting directly to the Secretary of the Navy and managing their respective organizations without the influence of other...
in the Navy became the first Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair.
Conner was given the title Commodore, but his official naval rank remained unchanged. The title "commodore" added nothing to his pay or to his permanent rank of captain. Not until 1862, six years after Conner's death in 1856, did the title commodore come to signify a higher grade or an increased salary.
During the Mexican-American War, Commodore Conner commanded the Home Squadron
Home Squadron
The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy and the slave trade, make coastal surveys, and train ships to relieve others on distant stations...
which operated in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
in 1846 and 1847 and executed a brilliant amphibious assault
Blockade of Veracruz
The Blockade of Veracruz was a conflict during the Mexican-American War.The blockade of Veracriz was extremely important in the Mexican-American War. It allowed the U.S. Army to land troops in Veracruz and initiate their siege....
against the city of Veracruz.
Leaving seagoing service soon afterwards, Conner subsequently commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Ill health, however, kept him from seeing much other active employment. Commodore Conner died at Philadelphia on 20 March 1856.
Two destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s of the Navy have been named in his honor.