Augustus P. Cooke
Encyclopedia
Augustus P. Cooke, was a mid-19th century United States Navy
officer.
on 29 April 1859. His nomination to the rank of Lieutenant
was approved by President James Buchanan
for approval by the Senate in late 1860, and became official on 28 December of that year following the retirement of Lieutenant Robert Selden, which left a vacancy in the Navy's officer corps. This highly-rigid system of officer promotion based on seniority and available positions were a common feature of 19th century navies.
When the Civil War
broke out, Cooke remained loyal to the Union. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
on 11 August 1862 and shortly afterwards was given command of the steamer USS Estrella when the Navy took her into service late in the year. Under Cooke's command, Estrella saw extensive service in the fighting along the Gulf Coast. He was relieved of his command shortly before the Battle of Mobile Bay
and ordered back to the Union states.
Cooke remained in the navy after the end of the war and was promoted to Commander on 15 August 1870. Four years later he was appointed as the commanding officer of the newly-commissioned torpedo ram
USS Intrepid
, giving him the distinction of being the first American naval officer to command a ship armed with self-propelled torpedoes.
After leaving Intrepid Cooke was promoted to Captain on 25 November 1881. By 1888 he was serving as a branch vice-president of the United States Naval Institute. Cooke retired from the navy on 27 May 1892.
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...
officer.
Career
Cooke entered the United States Naval Academy during the 1850s, and passed examinations to become a MidshipmanMidshipman
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 29 April 1859. His nomination to the rank of 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...
was approved by President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
for approval by the Senate in late 1860, and became official on 28 December of that year following the retirement of Lieutenant Robert Selden, which left a vacancy in the Navy's officer corps. This highly-rigid system of officer promotion based on seniority and available positions were a common feature of 19th century navies.
When 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...
broke out, Cooke remained loyal to the Union. He was promoted to 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...
on 11 August 1862 and shortly afterwards was given command of the steamer USS Estrella when the Navy took her into service late in the year. Under Cooke's command, Estrella saw extensive service in the fighting along the Gulf Coast. He was relieved of his command shortly before the Battle of Mobile Bay
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm...
and ordered back to the Union states.
Cooke remained in the navy after the end of the war and was promoted to Commander on 15 August 1870. Four years later he was appointed as the commanding officer of the newly-commissioned torpedo ram
Torpedo ram
A torpedo ram is a type of torpedo boat combining a ram with torpedo tubes. Incorporating design elements from the cruiser and the monitor, it was intended to provide small and inexpensive weapon systems for coastal defence and other littoral combat....
USS Intrepid
USS Intrepid (1874)
The second USS Intrepid, was a steam-powered torpedo ram built in 1874 that had the distinction of being the first U.S. Navy ship armed with self-propelled torpedoes...
, giving him the distinction of being the first American naval officer to command a ship armed with self-propelled torpedoes.
After leaving Intrepid Cooke was promoted to Captain on 25 November 1881. By 1888 he was serving as a branch vice-president of the United States Naval Institute. Cooke retired from the navy on 27 May 1892.