Philip Voorhees
Encyclopedia
Philip Falkerson Voorhees (23 February 1792 – 23 February 1862) was an officer in the United States Navy
, who served during the War of 1812
, and later commanded the East India Squadron
.
, the son of John Voorhees and Keziah Falkerson. He entered the navy as a midshipman
on 15 November 1809, and was engaged in the War of 1812
, taking part in the capture of the by the on 25 October 1812. . He was also present at the capture of HMS Epervier
by on 28 April 1814 for which he received a silver medal from congress, and promoted to a lieutenant
on 9 December 1814.
He was promoted to a commander
on 24 April 1828, and to a captain on 28 February 1838. He was assigned to command of the frigate
on her first cruise to the Mediterranean Sea
in 1842. In December 1843, Voorhees joined Commodore Daniel Turner's
Brazil Squadron
blockading Montevideo
in safeguarding U.S. trade during Uruguayan Civil War
.
The U.S. Navy stayed aloof from lower-South American troubles. On 29 September 1844, however, Voorhees showed himself to be quick-tempered and impulsive. He captured an armed Argentine schooner
that delivered a mail to the Argentine commanding officer. This overreaction damaged the US-Argentina relation.
He was tried by courts-martial
in 1845 but the sentences of these courts were not approved. After a few months' suspension President Polk
, in 1847, restored Voorhees to his full rank in the navy and gave him command of the East India Squadron
on the flagship . He returned in 1851.
In 1855 Voorhees was placed on the reserved list. At the opening of the American Civil War
he urged his assignment to active duty, but, he died a few months afterward on 26 February 1862 in Annapolis, Maryland
.
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 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...
, and later commanded the East India Squadron
East India Squadron
The East India Squadron, or East Indies Squadron, was a squadron of American ships which existed in the nineteenth century, it focused on protecting American interests in the Far East while the Pacific Squadron concentrated on the western coasts of the Americas and in the South Pacific Ocean...
.
Biography
Voorhees was born in New Brunswick, New JerseyNew Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, the son of John Voorhees and Keziah Falkerson. He entered the navy as 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...
on 15 November 1809, and was engaged in 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...
, taking part in the capture of the by the on 25 October 1812. . He was also present at the capture of HMS Epervier
Capture of HMS Epervier
The capture of HMS Epervier was a naval action fought off the coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral on 28 April 1814, between the ship-rigged sloop of war USS Peacock, commanded by Master Commandant Lewis Warrington, and the Epervier under Commander Richard Wales...
by on 28 April 1814 for which he received a silver medal from congress, and promoted to a 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 9 December 1814.
He was promoted to a commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
on 24 April 1828, and to a captain on 28 February 1838. He was assigned to command of 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"...
on her first cruise to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
in 1842. In December 1843, Voorhees joined Commodore Daniel Turner's
Daniel Turner (naval officer)
-Biography:Probably born at Richmond on Staten Island, Turner was appointed a midshipman in the Navy on 1 January 1808. Following brief duty at the New York Naval Station, he served in Constitution on the North Atlantic Station...
Brazil Squadron
Brazil Squadron
The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina...
blockading Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
in safeguarding U.S. trade during Uruguayan Civil War
Uruguayan Civil War
The Uruguayan Civil War, also known as "Guerra Grande", was a series of armed conflicts that took place between the Colorado Party and the National Party in Uruguay from 1839 to 1851...
.
The U.S. Navy stayed aloof from lower-South American troubles. On 29 September 1844, however, Voorhees showed himself to be quick-tempered and impulsive. He captured an armed Argentine 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....
that delivered a mail to the Argentine commanding officer. This overreaction damaged the US-Argentina relation.
He was tried by courts-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
in 1845 but the sentences of these courts were not approved. After a few months' suspension President Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
, in 1847, restored Voorhees to his full rank in the navy and gave him command of the East India Squadron
East India Squadron
The East India Squadron, or East Indies Squadron, was a squadron of American ships which existed in the nineteenth century, it focused on protecting American interests in the Far East while the Pacific Squadron concentrated on the western coasts of the Americas and in the South Pacific Ocean...
on the flagship . He returned in 1851.
In 1855 Voorhees was placed on the reserved list. At the opening of the American 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...
he urged his assignment to active duty, but, he died a few months afterward on 26 February 1862 in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
.