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David Glasgow Farragut was the first person to obtain the rank of admiral in the United States Navy. He was a flag officer of the US Navy during the American Civil War. He is known for of two of the most important Union naval victories during the war.
See the fact file below for more information on the David Glasgow Farragut or alternatively, you can download our 21-page David Glasgow Farragut worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
EARLY LIFE
- David Farragut was born James Glasgow Farragut on July 5, 1801 in Campbell’s Station (now Farragut) in the state of Tennessee.
- Farragut’s father, George, was a naval officer.
- Following the death of his mother, Elizabeth, in 1808, Farragut was informally taken as a foster son by a naval officer named David Porter.
- Farragut changed his first name to David in honor of his foster father.
EARLY NAVAL CAREER
- Farragut started his naval career early and grew up in a naval family.
- Later, he became the unofficial foster brother of another famous Civil War admiral, David Dixon Porter.
- Through his foster father, Farragut was commissioned a midshipman in the US Navy on December 17, 1810, at the age of nine.
- Farragut fought aboard the warship Essex during the War of 1812, serving under Porter.
- At age twelve, Farragut had already commanded a prize ship captured in the War of 1812.
- From 1815 to 1820, he served in the Mediterranean.
- Farragut had already established himself as an accomplished naval officer by the age of 20.
- In 1821, he passed the midshipman’s exam.
- From 1822 to 1824, serving under Porter, Farragut hunted West Indian pirates in the Caribbean.
- He was promoted to lieutenant in 1822, then in 1824, was placed in his first independent command of a US naval vessel: the USS Ferret.
- Farragut had been promoted to commander in 1841.
- The following year, he was placed in command of the sloop Decatur.
COMMANDER FARRAGUT
- On April 25, 1846, the Mexican-American War began.
- In 1847, Farragut commanded the USS Saratoga on blockade duty during the war.
- Farragut mainly took part in a naval blockade of the port of Tuxpan during the Mexican-American war.
- In 1853, Farragut was selected by James C. Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy, to create the naval yard at Mare Island near San Francisco, California.
- From 1854 to 1858, he oversaw the construction of the naval yard.
- The Mare Island Navy Yard, located in present-day Vallejo, California, gave the United States a permanent naval presence on the Pacific Ocean.
- Despite being born and raised in the South, Farragut sided with the Union, and moved from Virginia to New York when Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861.
- There were some doubts about Farragut’s loyalty but in the end, he was positioned as commander of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron in 1862.
- Farragut’s naval troops wrecked most of the Confederate river squadron that was stationed upstream of the forts.
- On April 29, 1862, Farragut took the city and port of New Orleans, which was a big win for the Union and a major loss for the Confederates.
- The port of New Orleans was the Confederacy’s largest port.
- From that victory, Farragut was able to launch a major campaign deeper into the Confederates’ territory.
- He was awarded with the new rank of Rear Admiral.
- In July 1862, Farragut passed the batteries defending Vicksburg, Mississippi, but was unsuccessful and ended up withdrawing.
- In March 1863, Farragut led two ships past the batteries at Port Hudson, Mississippi.
- Farragut’s fleet suffered heavy casualties as they passed through the heavily armed fort.
- On August 5, 1864, Farragut took the last open Confederate port of Mobile, Alabama in the Battle of Mobile Bay, which is what he is mostly known for and where he said his famous quote, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”
- This was followed by Farragut capturing Tennessee, but shortly thereafter he fell ill and was relieved of his duty.
- On December 1864 he was promoted to be a vice-admiral in the U.S. Navy, making him the first person to obtain such a rank.
- He was also the first to obtain the rank of admiral, which he received in 1866.
PERSONAL LIFE
- After commanding USS Ferret, Farragut married Susan Caroline Marchant on September 2, 1824.
- Susan died on December 27, 1840 after a long time of being in poor health.
- Farragut married his second wife, Virginia Dorcas Loyall, on December 26, 1843, with whom he had one son, Loyall Farragut, who was born October 12, 1844.
- Loyall Farragut served as a second lieutenant in the US Army until 1872.
- Farragut remained on active duty until the day of his death.
- Farragut died of a heart attack while visiting the Portsmouth, New Hampshire naval yard on Aug. 14, 1870.
David Glasgow Farragut Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about David Glasgow Farragut across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use David Glasgow Farragut worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about David Glasgow Farragut who was the first person to obtain the rank of admiral in the United States Navy. He was a flag officer of the US Navy during the American Civil War. He is known for of two of the most important Union naval victories during the war.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- David Glasgow Farragut Facts
- Terms To Remember
- Farragut Or False
- Career Timeline
- Early Life Narrative
- Picture Story
- Major Victory
- Military Quotes
- Union Officers
- Admiring Admirals
- If I Were A Commander
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