John Randolph Tucker (1812-1883)
Encyclopedia
John Randolph Tucker who served as an officer in the navies of three nations, was born in Alexandria
, Virginia
. His parents were John Tucker, originally from Bermuda
, and Sara Douglas.
Midshipman
on June 1, 1826 and had service afloat in the Mediterranean and Brazil
Squadrons prior to his promotion to Lieutenant
on December 20, 1837. During the Mexican-American War, he served as a Lieutenant Commander
in the Gulf of Mexico
, commanding USS Stromboli until illness forced him to return north. From 1849 until 1855 he was assigned to the Home and Mediterranean Squadrons' flagships. Tucker received his commission as Commander
on September 14, 1855 when he became commanding officer of USS Pennsylvania
. He later served as Ordnance Officer at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
in April 1861, becoming a Commander in the Virginia Navy and, in June, the Confederate States Navy
. He was commanding officer of CSS Patrick Henry
during 1861-62, participating with her in several combat actions. During the Federal Navy's attack on the Drewry's Bluff fortifications in May, he commanded one of the defending batteries.
In July 1862, Tucker was ordered to Charleston
, South Carolina
, where he took command of the ironclad CSS Chicora
. The following January 31, he led his ship in a successful attack on Union warships off that port. He became commander of the Confederate warships at Charleston in March 1863, remaining in that post until the city fell in February 1865. During that time, he was promoted to Captain
and aggressively pursued spar-torpedo warfare against U.S. warships. During the U.S. Civil War's last weeks he served in the defenses of Richmond, Virginia
, and with the Confederate States Army
as it withdrew to its final destiny at Appomattox, Virginia
. He surrendered in the field on April 6, 1865 at the Battle of Sayler's Creek
, and remained a prisoner of war
until July 24. After his release, he returned to the South to work as an agent of the Southern Express Company of Raleigh
, North Carolina
.
. Peru
and Chile
were at war with Spain
, and the Peruvians invited Tucker to join their Navy as a Rear Admiral
, bringing with him two staff officers of his choice. Tucker accepted and went to Peru with Captain David Porter McCorkle
and Commander Walter Raleigh Butt. Although some Peruvian naval officers objected to a foreigner in command of their fleet, Tucker did his best until several Peruvian navy officers (including Miguel Grau Seminario
, later known as "the Knight of the Seas" at the War of Guano and Salitre (1879-1883), resigned their commissions due to Tucker's appointment. Tucker resigned as commander in chief but remained a rear admiral in the Peruvian Navy, mainly because of the support of President Prado. Prado had planned for Tucker to lead the allied fleet to victory over the Spanish at Puerto Rico, Cuba and Las Filipinas.
Tucker resigned from the Peruvian Navy
in 1871. He was then appointed president of the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission of the Amazon, which surveyed the upper Amazon River
and its tributaries. This expedition discovered two new rivers, the Trinidad and the Herrera-yacu. Tucker traveled to New York
upon completion of the expedition to have maps and atlases made from the Commission's findings.
John Randolph Tucker died at Petersburg, Virginia
, on June 12, 1883. His collected papers are in the library of Old Dominion University
.
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. His parents were John Tucker, originally from Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, and Sara Douglas.
United States Navy
Tucker became a United States NavyUnited 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...
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 June 1, 1826 and had service afloat in the Mediterranean and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Squadrons prior to his promotion to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on December 20, 1837. During the Mexican-American War, he served as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
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...
, commanding USS Stromboli until illness forced him to return north. From 1849 until 1855 he was assigned to the Home and Mediterranean Squadrons' flagships. Tucker received his commission as 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...
on September 14, 1855 when he became commanding officer of USS Pennsylvania
USS Pennsylvania (1837)
USS Pennsylvania was a three-decked 140-gun ship of the line of the United States Navy, named for the state of Pennsylvania. She was the largest sailing warship ever built for the Navy, and the equivalent of a first-rate of the British Royal Navy, but her only cruise was a single trip from...
. He later served as Ordnance Officer at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Confederate States Navy service
Commander Tucker resigned from the U.S. Navy when Virginia seceded from the UnionUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in April 1861, becoming a Commander in the Virginia Navy and, in June, the Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
. He was commanding officer of CSS Patrick Henry
CSS Patrick Henry
CSS Patrick Henry was built in New York City in 1859 by the renowned William H. Webb for the Old Dominion Steam Ship Line as the civilian steamer Yorktown, a brigantine-rigged side-wheel steamer. She carried passengers and freight between Richmond, Virginia and New York City...
during 1861-62, participating with her in several combat actions. During the Federal Navy's attack on the Drewry's Bluff fortifications in May, he commanded one of the defending batteries.
In July 1862, Tucker was ordered to Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, 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...
, where he took command of the ironclad CSS Chicora
CSS Chicora
CSS Chicora was a Confederate ironclad ram that fought in the American Civil War. She was built under contract at Charleston, South Carolina in 1862. James M. Eason built her to John L...
. The following January 31, he led his ship in a successful attack on Union warships off that port. He became commander of the Confederate warships at Charleston in March 1863, remaining in that post until the city fell in February 1865. During that time, he was promoted to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
and aggressively pursued spar-torpedo warfare against U.S. warships. During the U.S. Civil War's last weeks he served in the defenses of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, and with the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
as it withdrew to its final destiny at Appomattox, Virginia
Appomattox, Virginia
Appomattox is a town in Appomattox County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,761 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Appomattox County.Appomattox is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. He surrendered in the field on April 6, 1865 at the Battle of Sayler's Creek
Battle of Sayler's Creek
-External links:* * : Maps, histories, photos, and preservation news...
, and remained a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
until July 24. After his release, he returned to the South to work as an agent of the Southern Express Company of Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, 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...
.
Peruvian Navy and later service
In 1866, the Peruvian Minister to the United States contacted Tucker to arrange an interview 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....
. Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
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...
were at war with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and the Peruvians invited Tucker to join their Navy 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 :...
, bringing with him two staff officers of his choice. Tucker accepted and went to Peru with Captain David Porter McCorkle
David Porter McCorkle
David Porter McCorkle was a Confederate Lieutenant in the American Civil War.He ran the Naval Ordnance Works at New Orleans which also served as a laboratory, principally manufacturing shot and shells, gun carriages for outfitting ships in the Confederate Navy.In March or April 1862, before the...
and Commander Walter Raleigh Butt. Although some Peruvian naval officers objected to a foreigner in command of their fleet, Tucker did his best until several Peruvian navy officers (including Miguel Grau Seminario
Miguel Grau Seminario
Miguel María Grau Seminario was a renowned Peruvian naval officer and hero of the Naval Battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific . He was known as the el Caballero de los Mares for his chivalry and is esteemed by both Peruvians and Chileans...
, later known as "the Knight of the Seas" at the War of Guano and Salitre (1879-1883), resigned their commissions due to Tucker's appointment. Tucker resigned as commander in chief but remained a rear admiral in the Peruvian Navy, mainly because of the support of President Prado. Prado had planned for Tucker to lead the allied fleet to victory over the Spanish at Puerto Rico, Cuba and Las Filipinas.
Tucker resigned from the Peruvian Navy
Peruvian Navy
The Peruvian Navy is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the Peruvian littoral...
in 1871. He was then appointed president of the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission of the Amazon, which surveyed the upper Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and its tributaries. This expedition discovered two new rivers, the Trinidad and the Herrera-yacu. Tucker traveled to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
upon completion of the expedition to have maps and atlases made from the Commission's findings.
John Randolph Tucker died at Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, on June 12, 1883. His collected papers are in the library of Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
.