Francis Gregory
Encyclopedia
Francis Hoyt Gregory was an officer in the United States Navy
during the War of 1812
through to the Civil War
, serving then as a Rear Admiral
.
. While in the merchant service, he was impressed by the British
in an incident typical of those which led in part to the War of 1812. After escaping, Gregory was appointed a midshipman
16 January 1809, by President
Jefferson
and reported to Revenge
, commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry
.
In March 1809 he was transferred to the Gulf Squadron at New Orleans
. In 1811, while serving in Vesuvius
and as acting captain of Gun Boat 162, Gregory participated in three notable actions. On August 7th, off Pensacola, Midshipman Gregory attacked and crippled the pirate schooner La Franchise. On August 10th, off Mobile, he attached and captured the pirate schooner
Santa Maria. On September 11th, between Brassa and Barataria, Louisiana; midshipman Gregory and his crew captured the pirate ship La Divina, and the schooners La Sophie and Le Vengeance.
During the War of 1812, he served on Lake Ontario
under Commodore
Isaac Chauncey
and participated in attacks on Toronto
, Kingston
, and Fort George
. In August 1814 Gregory was captured by the British; refused parole, he was sent to England and remained there until June 1815.
n coast until 1821. In that year, he became captain of Grampus
and spent the following two years cruising the West Indies to suppress piracy. While in the Indies, Gregory captured the notorious pirate brig Panchita and destroyed several other pirate ships. After fitting out the frigate
Brandywine, destined to carry the Marquis de la Fayette back to France
, in 1824, Gregory sailed a 64-gun frigate
to Greece
for the revolutionary government. From 1824-1828 he served at the New York Navy Yard, and in 1831 reported to the Pacific Station for a three-year cruise in command of Falmouth. Gregory served as commander of the Station for one year.
, Gregory—appointed a Captain in 1838—sailed to the Gulf of Mexico
, where he commanded North Carolina
and Raritan
and served in the blockade of the Mexican
coast during the Mexican-American War.
After the Mexican War, Gregory commanded the squadron off the African coast, with Portsmouth as his flagship
, until June 1851. Returning to the United States
, he became Commandant
of the Boston Navy Yard
in May 1852 and served there through February 1856. His subsequent retirement ended a Navy career that had spanned nearly 50 years.
16 July 1862, he served throughout the four years of war and then retired again.
Rear Admiral Gregory died in Brooklyn, New York, on 4 October 1866 and was buried at New Haven, Connecticut
.
for him.
There is an old family story related to Admiral Gregory during his imprisonment in England during the War of 1812.
He had been placed under "house arrest" at a country estate, where he lived by a gentleman's agreement not to attempt escape by passing beyond certain boundaries, one of which was defined by a large stone marker. At some point, there was a formal dinner party at another estate a mile or so away that the captain wished to attend, yet was beyond the set boundary.
The dinner guests were surprised during the party by the arrival of the American captain, and he was accused of violating the terms of his incarceration by going beyond the marker.
The captain smilingly ushered the complaintants outside...where they found a wheelbarrow parked at the far corner of the house containing the large marker stone.
Admiral Gregory was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Shaw, an early naval commander and a hero of the 1st Barbary Coast campaign and the War of 1812.
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...
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...
through to the 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...
, serving then as a Rear Admiral
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 :...
.
Early life; service during the War of 1812
Gregory was born in Norwalk, ConnecticutNorwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
. While in the merchant service, he was impressed by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in an incident typical of those which led in part to the War of 1812. After escaping, Gregory was appointed a 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...
16 January 1809, by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and reported to Revenge
USS Revenge (1806)
The third Revenge was a schooner in the United States Navy during the years preceding the War of 1812.-Early service:The Navy purchased the Baltimore-built schooner Ranger at New Orleans in December, 1806. She was renamed and commissioned as Revenge. In 1807 she was ordered to the Atlantic coast...
, commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
.
In March 1809 he was transferred to the Gulf Squadron at New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. In 1811, while serving in Vesuvius
USS Vesuvius (1806)
USS Vesuvius was a bomb ketch, and the first ship of the United States Navy named for the Italian volcano.Vesuvius was built by Jacob Coffin at Newburyport, Massachusetts. She was launched on 31 May 1806 and commissioned in or before September 1806, with Lieutenant James T...
and as acting captain of Gun Boat 162, Gregory participated in three notable actions. On August 7th, off Pensacola, Midshipman Gregory attacked and crippled the pirate schooner La Franchise. On August 10th, off Mobile, he attached and captured the pirate schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Santa Maria. On September 11th, between Brassa and Barataria, Louisiana; midshipman Gregory and his crew captured the pirate ship La Divina, and the schooners La Sophie and Le Vengeance.
During the War of 1812, he served on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
under Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Isaac Chauncey
Isaac Chauncey
Isaac Chauncey was an officer in the United States Navy.-Biography:Chauncey, born in Black Rock, Connecticut, 20 February 1779, was appointed a Lieutenant in the Navy from 17 September 1798...
and participated in attacks on Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, and Fort George
Fort George, Ontario
Fort George National Historic Site is a historic military structure at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, that was the scene of several battles during the War of 1812...
. In August 1814 Gregory was captured by the British; refused parole, he was sent to England and remained there until June 1815.
Command assignments, 1820s to early 1830s
After he was released by the British, Gregory joined the Mediterranean Squadron and operated along the North AfricaNorth Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
n coast until 1821. In that year, he became captain of Grampus
USS Grampus (1820)
USS Grampus was a schooner in the United States Navy. She was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named for the Grampus griseus, also known as Risso's Dolphin....
and spent the following two years cruising the West Indies to suppress piracy. While in the Indies, Gregory captured the notorious pirate brig Panchita and destroyed several other pirate ships. After fitting out 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"...
Brandywine, destined to carry the Marquis de la Fayette back to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in 1824, Gregory sailed a 64-gun 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"...
to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for the revolutionary government. From 1824-1828 he served at the New York Navy Yard, and in 1831 reported to the Pacific Station for a three-year cruise in command of Falmouth. Gregory served as commander of the Station for one year.
Command assignments, late 1830s to 1850s
From the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, Gregory—appointed a Captain in 1838—sailed to 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...
, where he commanded North Carolina
USS North Carolina (1820)
The first USS North Carolina was a 74-gun ship of the line in the United States Navy.One of the "nine ships to rate not less than 74 guns each" authorized by Congress on 29 April 1816, she was laid down in 1818 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, launched on 7 September 1820, and fitted out in the...
and Raritan
USS Raritan (1843)
The first USS Raritan was a wooden-hulled, three-masted sailing frigate of the United States Navy built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, laid down in 1820, but not launched until 13 June 1843, sponsored by Commodore Frederick Engle. She was one of the last sailing frigates of the United States...
and served in the blockade of the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
coast during the Mexican-American War.
After the Mexican War, Gregory commanded the squadron off the African coast, with Portsmouth as his flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, until June 1851. Returning to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he became Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
in May 1852 and served there through February 1856. His subsequent retirement ended a Navy career that had spanned nearly 50 years.
Civil War duty and last years
When the Civil War rolled across the land, Gregory returned to naval service to superintend the construction and fitting-out of naval vessels in private shipyards. Promoted to Rear AdmiralRear 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 :...
16 July 1862, he served throughout the four years of war and then retired again.
Rear Admiral Gregory died in Brooklyn, New York, on 4 October 1866 and was buried at New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
.
Legacy
Two ships were named USS GregoryUSS Gregory
Two ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Gregory for Francis Gregory.* The first USS Gregory was a Wickes-class destroyer, serving from 1918 until she was sunk in battle in 1942....
for him.
There is an old family story related to Admiral Gregory during his imprisonment in England during the War of 1812.
He had been placed under "house arrest" at a country estate, where he lived by a gentleman's agreement not to attempt escape by passing beyond certain boundaries, one of which was defined by a large stone marker. At some point, there was a formal dinner party at another estate a mile or so away that the captain wished to attend, yet was beyond the set boundary.
The dinner guests were surprised during the party by the arrival of the American captain, and he was accused of violating the terms of his incarceration by going beyond the marker.
The captain smilingly ushered the complaintants outside...where they found a wheelbarrow parked at the far corner of the house containing the large marker stone.
Admiral Gregory was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Shaw, an early naval commander and a hero of the 1st Barbary Coast campaign and the War of 1812.