Fabius Stanly
Encyclopedia
Fabius Maximus Stanly was a rear admiral
of the United States Navy
, who served during the Mexican and Civil War
s.
Stanly was born on 15 December 1815 in New Bern
, North Carolina
. He was appointed midshipman
on 20 December 1831. He was promoted to lieutenant on 8 September 1841. During the Mexican War, he was assigned to the Pacific Squadron
and participated in the capture of California
and the defense of San Francisco. He also took part in several land raids and, on one occasion, led a party of 30 bluejacket
s on a cannon
-spiking raid in the midst of 1,500 enemy troops. He completed his mission successfully, returning to the boats with all his wounded and some prisoners to boot.
Promoted to commander at the outset of the Civil War, he served in the Pacific Squadron until 1864. At that time, he was given command of the side-wheel steamer and cruised off the coast of South Carolina
for the duration of the war. Stanly was commissioned captain on 25 July 1866, commodore on 1 July 1870, and rear admiral on 12 February 1874. He was retired from the Navy on 4 June 1874 and died in Washington, D.C.
, on 5 December 1882.
In 1941, the destroyer
was named in his honor.
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
of the United States Navy
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...
, who served during the Mexican and Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
s.
Stanly was born on 15 December 1815 in New Bern
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He was appointed 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 20 December 1831. He was promoted to lieutenant on 8 September 1841. During the Mexican War, he was assigned to the Pacific Squadron
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
and participated in the capture of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and the defense of San Francisco. He also took part in several land raids and, on one occasion, led a party of 30 bluejacket
Bluejacket
-People:* A term for an enlisted sailor in the U.S. or British Navy* Blue Jacket, a Shawnee war chief known for his defense of Shawnee lands in the Ohio Country* Charles Blue Jacket, a 19th century Shawnee chief in Kansas, and Methodist Minister...
s on a cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
-spiking raid in the midst of 1,500 enemy troops. He completed his mission successfully, returning to the boats with all his wounded and some prisoners to boot.
Promoted to commander at the outset of the Civil War, he served in the Pacific Squadron until 1864. At that time, he was given command of the side-wheel steamer and cruised off the coast of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
for the duration of the war. Stanly was commissioned captain on 25 July 1866, commodore on 1 July 1870, and rear admiral on 12 February 1874. He was retired from the Navy on 4 June 1874 and died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, on 5 December 1882.
In 1941, the 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...
was named in his honor.