George P. Upshur
Encyclopedia
George Parker Upshur was an officer in the United States Navy
and the brother of Abel P. Upshur
.
Born in Northampton county, Virginia, Upshur entered the United States Navy as midshipman, April 23, 1818; was promoted to lieutenant, March 3, 1827, and served in the USS Lexington
, on the Brazil station, 1832–34, against the pirates infesting the Falkland Islands
. He commanded the brig USS Truxtun
on her first cruise in the Mediterranean in 1843-44, and from 1844 until 1847 served in the receiving ship at Norfolk, Virginia. He was commissioned commander, February 27, 1847, and from that year until 1850 was superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis.
On July 13, 1852, he took command of the sloop-of-war USS Levant
, at Norfolk. Levant joined the United States squadron in the Mediterranean, and Upshur died on board his ship, in the harbor of Spezzia, Italy, November 3, 1852.
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...
and the brother of Abel P. Upshur
Abel P. Upshur
Abel Parker Upshur was an American lawyer, judge and politician from Virginia. Upshur was active in Virginia state politics and later served as Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of State during the Whig administration of President John Tyler...
.
Born in Northampton county, Virginia, Upshur entered the United States Navy as midshipman, April 23, 1818; was promoted to lieutenant, March 3, 1827, and served in the USS Lexington
USS Lexington (1825)
The second USS Lexington was a sloop in the United States Navy built at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York, in 1825; and commissioned on 11 June 1826, Master Commandant William B. Shubrick in command....
, on the Brazil station, 1832–34, against the pirates infesting the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. He commanded the brig USS Truxtun
USS Truxtun (1842)
The first USS Truxtun was a brig in the United States Navy. She was named for Commodore Thomas Truxtun, and was an active participant in the Mexican-American War.- The Ship :...
on her first cruise in the Mediterranean in 1843-44, and from 1844 until 1847 served in the receiving ship at Norfolk, Virginia. He was commissioned commander, February 27, 1847, and from that year until 1850 was superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis.
On July 13, 1852, he took command of the sloop-of-war USS Levant
USS Levant (1837)
The first USS Levant was a second-class sloop-of-war in the United States Navy.Levant was launched on 28 December 1837 by New York Navy Yard; and commissioned on 17 March 1838, with Commander Hiram Paulding in command....
, at Norfolk. Levant joined the United States squadron in the Mediterranean, and Upshur died on board his ship, in the harbor of Spezzia, Italy, November 3, 1852.