Richard T. Renshaw
Encyclopedia
Richard T. Renshaw was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
Renshaw entered the Navy as a midshipman
on January 26, 1838, and was commissioned acting master September 10, 1851. Resigning June 29, 1852, Renshaw reentered the Navy at the beginning of the Civil War as a lieutenant
on May 13, 1861. He served in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron commanding side-wheel gunboat
Louisiana
during the war, winning promotion to commander
on September 22, 1862.
Renshaw stayed in the Navy following the Civil War. He was promoted to captain on September 20, 1868. He retired December 10, 1874, and died five years later on March 22, 1879.
was named for him and his elder brother, William B. Renshaw
.
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 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...
.
Renshaw 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 January 26, 1838, and was commissioned acting master September 10, 1851. Resigning June 29, 1852, Renshaw reentered the Navy at the beginning of the Civil War as 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 May 13, 1861. He served in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron commanding side-wheel 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:...
Louisiana
USS Louisiana (1861)
The second USS Louisiana was a propeller-driven iron hull steamer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Steamboat Origins:...
during the war, winning promotion 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...
on September 22, 1862.
Renshaw stayed in the Navy following the Civil War. He was promoted to captain on September 20, 1868. He retired December 10, 1874, and died five years later on March 22, 1879.
Namesake
The first USS RenshawUSS Renshaw (1862)
The first USS Renshaw was a schooner in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Renshaw, a new schooner still unrigged, was captured by a boatcrew from in the Tar River some 5 miles above Washington, North Carolina, on 20 May 1862. The members of the expedition named the prize,...
was named for him and his elder brother, William B. Renshaw
William B. Renshaw
William Bainbridge Renshaw was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
.