James Hooker Strong
Encyclopedia
James Hooker Strong was a rear admiral
of the United States Navy
, who served during the American Civil War
.
, was appointed a midshipman
in the Navy while he was a student in the Polytechnic College at Chittenango, New York
, on 2 February 1829. He made his first cruise on the Brazil Station in from 1833 to 1835. After various cruises, he commanded the store ship in 1859.
On the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, Strong was promoted to commander
, and commanded and in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1861 and 1862, and in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron from 1863 to 1865. At the Battle of Mobile Bay
, he was the first to ram the Confederate
ironclad and received high commendation for his initiative and valor, and a promotion to captain.
Strong served at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
in 1866 and 1867, and later commanded in the Mediterranean Squadron in 1869 and 1870. He was promoted to rear admiral
in 1873 and served as Commander-in-Chief of the South Atlantic Squadron from 1873 to 1875.
Strong retired on 25 April 1876. He died in Columbia, South Carolina
, on 28 November 1882.
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 :...
of the United States Navy
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 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...
.
Biography
Strong, born in Canandaigua, New YorkCanandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
, was appointed 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...
in the Navy while he was a student in the Polytechnic College at Chittenango, New York
Chittenango, New York
Chittenango is a village located in Madison County, New York, in the United States. The village is in the south part of the Town of Sullivan. The population was 5,081 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, on 2 February 1829. He made his first cruise on the Brazil Station in from 1833 to 1835. After various cruises, he commanded the store ship in 1859.
On the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, Strong was promoted to 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...
, and commanded and in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1861 and 1862, and in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron from 1863 to 1865. At 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...
, he was the first to ram the Confederate
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...
ironclad and received high commendation for his initiative and valor, and a promotion to captain.
Strong served at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
in 1866 and 1867, and later commanded in the Mediterranean Squadron in 1869 and 1870. He was promoted to 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 :...
in 1873 and served as Commander-in-Chief of the South Atlantic Squadron from 1873 to 1875.
Strong retired on 25 April 1876. He died in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, on 28 November 1882.