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George Brown (Admiral)
Encyclopedia
George Brown was an American
naval officer. He was born in Indiana
, and entered the navy as a midshipman on February 5, 1849. He subsequently served aboard the USS Cumberland and USS St. Lawrence.
He served throughout the Civil War
, first as inspector of ordnance for the USS Powhatan (rank Lieutenant), then as commander of the USS Octorara with the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron, during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He especially distinguished himself on the night of February 24, 1863, when, in command of the river gunboat at Palmyra Island, he defended himself for an hour and a half against four Confederate
gunboats. He was wounded and taken prisoner, and his vessel was destroyed. He was held at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia until exchanged in May 1863. He commandeered and armed the civilian vessel Union at Marion, Indiana for defence against Morgan's Raiders in July 1863. Later he commanded the USS Itasca at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864.
After the war he conveyed the former CSS Stonewall to Japan, to which it had been sold.
He became a commander
in 1866 and a rear admiral
in 1893.
In June and July 1891 he was in Chilean waters involved in the Itata Incident
which was a diplomatic affair and military incident involving the United States and Chile
during the Chilean Civil War
. The incident concerned an attempted arms shipment by the rebel ship Itata from the U.S. to Chile. He was accused by opponents of the administration of having gone beyond his public orders to become involved in intrigues with the combatants. Theodore Roosevelt
defends Brown from these charges in his book, Campaigns and Controversies.
He commanded the naval forces in the Philippines
in 1889–92, and the Norfolk Navy Yard
in 1886–90, and again in 1893–97, when he retired. Two of his sons, George, Jr. and Hugh, became officers in the US Navy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
naval officer. He was born in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and entered the navy as a midshipman on February 5, 1849. He subsequently served aboard the USS Cumberland and USS St. Lawrence.
He served throughout 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...
, first as inspector of ordnance for the USS Powhatan (rank Lieutenant), then as commander of the USS Octorara with the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron, during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He especially distinguished himself on the night of February 24, 1863, when, in command of the river gunboat at Palmyra Island, he defended himself for an hour and a half against four Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
gunboats. He was wounded and taken prisoner, and his vessel was destroyed. He was held at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia until exchanged in May 1863. He commandeered and armed the civilian vessel Union at Marion, Indiana for defence against Morgan's Raiders in July 1863. Later he commanded the USS Itasca at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864.
After the war he conveyed the former CSS Stonewall to Japan, to which it had been sold.
He became a commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
in 1866 and 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 :...
in 1893.
In June and July 1891 he was in Chilean waters involved in the Itata Incident
Itata Incident
The Itata Incident was a diplomatic affair and military incident involving the United States and Chilean insurgents during the Chilean Civil War in 1891. The incident concerned an arms shipment by the Chilean ship Itata from the United States to Chile, to assist insurgent Congressionalist forces in...
which was a diplomatic affair and military incident involving the United States and Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
during the Chilean Civil War
Chilean Civil War
The Chilean Civil War of 1891 was an armed conflict between forces supporting Congress and forces supporting the sitting President, José Manuel Balmaceda. The war saw a confrontation between the Chilean Army and the Chilean Navy, which had sided with the president and the congress, respectively...
. The incident concerned an attempted arms shipment by the rebel ship Itata from the U.S. to Chile. He was accused by opponents of the administration of having gone beyond his public orders to become involved in intrigues with the combatants. Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
defends Brown from these charges in his book, Campaigns and Controversies.
He commanded the naval forces in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1889–92, and the Norfolk Navy Yard
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navy's ships. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy as well as the most...
in 1886–90, and again in 1893–97, when he retired. Two of his sons, George, Jr. and Hugh, became officers in the US Navy.