Napoleon Collins
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
Napoleon Collins (4 March 1814 – 9 August 1875) served in the United States Navy
during the Mexican–American War
and the American Civil War
.
. He became a Midshipman
in the United States Navy in January 1834. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1846, he took an active role in the war with Mexico
. During the first years of the Civil War, he commanded several gunboat
s and attained the rank of Commander in July 1862.
On 7 October 1864, while in command of the screw sloop
, Collins took his ship into a neutral harbor
and captured the Confederate
cruiser
, sparking a minor diplomatic crisis between the United States
and the Empire of Brazil. The Florida was ultimately towed to sea and taken to the United States.
Court-martial
led for this illegal undertaking, Commander Collins was sentenced to be dismissed. However, since his seizure of Florida was both militarily effective and popularly acclaimed in the Northern states, the sentence was not carried out.
Napoleon Collins remained active in the post-war Navy, reaching the ranks of Captain in July 1866 and Rear Admiral in August 1874. On 9 August 1875, while in command of the South Pacific Squadron
, he died at Lima, Peru.
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 :...
Napoleon Collins (4 March 1814 – 9 August 1875) served in 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...
during the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
and 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
Collins was born in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He became 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 United States Navy in January 1834. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1846, he took an active role in the war with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. During the first years of the Civil War, he commanded several gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s and attained the rank of Commander in July 1862.
On 7 October 1864, while in command of the screw sloop
Screw sloop
A screw sloop is a propeller-driven sloop-of-war. In the 19th century, during the introduction of the steam engine, ships driven by propellers were differentiated from those driven by paddle-wheels by referring to the ship's screws...
, Collins took his ship into a neutral harbor
Bahia Incident
The Bahia Incident was a naval skirmish fought in late 1864 during the American Civil War. A Confederate States Navy warship was captured by a Union warship in Bahia Harbor, Brazil...
and captured the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
, sparking a minor diplomatic crisis between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Empire of Brazil. The Florida was ultimately towed to sea and taken to the United States.
Court-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...
led for this illegal undertaking, Commander Collins was sentenced to be dismissed. However, since his seizure of Florida was both militarily effective and popularly acclaimed in the Northern states, the sentence was not carried out.
Napoleon Collins remained active in the post-war Navy, reaching the ranks of Captain in July 1866 and Rear Admiral in August 1874. On 9 August 1875, while in command of the South Pacific Squadron
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
, he died at Lima, Peru.