Adolph E. Borie
Encyclopedia
Adolph Edward Borie was a United States merchant and politician who briefly served (1869) as Secretary of the Navy
in the Ulysses S. Grant
administration.
, Pennsylvania
, the son of a French emigrant merchant and a Haitian refugee. He attended the University of Pennsylvania
, graduated in 1825, toured Europe, and in 1828 entered his father's firm. Silk and tea were the emphasized commodities during his 30-year tenure in the firm. In politics he was a Whig
and favored protectionist trade policies. In 1843 he was appointed U.S. Consul in Belgium.
He became a Republican and supported the Union cause in the Civil War
. He was a founding member and one-time president of Philadelphia's Union Club, and guided the recruiting and equipping of several regiments.
In 1868 he was nominated as Secretary of the Navy by President-elect Grant, whom he had befriended in the past. Grant, in his choices for various posts, had a tendency of choosing people who were not fully qualified or able for the posts. A few of his nominees were exceptional in their service, most notably his effective Secretary of State Hamilton Fish
, Secretary of the Treasury Benjamin Bristow
, and Attorney General Alphonso Taft
. But, in his initial stages of choosing his 1869 cabinet, it was a hit-or-miss matter. Borie had been very friendly to Grant on a visit to Philadelphia that he chaired. Grant, considering that he owed something to Borie and to the Republicans in the Keystone State announced that there would be a man from Pennsylvania in his cabinet. When pressed for details ("was it a member of the Republican machine under Simon Cameron
?") Grant's sense of humor took over and he became mysterious, talking about a "man from Philadelphia".
The question of who was this "man from Philadelphia" bothered the public, but the revelation it was Borie was met with amazement. Nobody had ever heard of him outside of Philadelphia. Borie had little interest in public office, and freely admitted that Admiral David Dixon Porter
was the actual manager.
Borie disliked the Native American Indian
names borne by so many United States Navy
ships of the post-American Civil War
era, and during his very short term as Secretary of the Navy, had a great many vessels renamed after states of the Union, creatures and personages from classical Greek or Roman mythology, or names that conveyed power or strength. A sample of names that Borie selected were Florida
, "Centaur"
, and "Tornado"
. His successor, George M. Robeson
, had most of these ships reverted to their original names a few months later. Ironically, Borie was a Philadelphian associated with the town of Manayunk
(now a Philadelphia neighborhood), and one of the vessels that was never given back its original name was USS Manayunk
, which permanently kept its new name of USS Ajax
.
Borie served only a few months (March 9 to June 25) in the position. He returned to private life in order to resume his business interests, but remained close friends with Grant, who he joined for much of his world tour in 1879-1879. For his brief service, two ships were christened USS Borie
in his honor.
In his later business career, he interested himself in railroads and financial concerns. He was a noted patron of the arts.
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
in the Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
administration.
Biography
Borie was born in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
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...
, the son of a French emigrant merchant and a Haitian refugee. He attended the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, graduated in 1825, toured Europe, and in 1828 entered his father's firm. Silk and tea were the emphasized commodities during his 30-year tenure in the firm. In politics he was a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and favored protectionist trade policies. In 1843 he was appointed U.S. Consul in Belgium.
He became a Republican and supported the Union cause in 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...
. He was a founding member and one-time president of Philadelphia's Union Club, and guided the recruiting and equipping of several regiments.
In 1868 he was nominated as Secretary of the Navy by President-elect Grant, whom he had befriended in the past. Grant, in his choices for various posts, had a tendency of choosing people who were not fully qualified or able for the posts. A few of his nominees were exceptional in their service, most notably his effective Secretary of State Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish was an American statesman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of New York, United States Senator and United States Secretary of State. Fish has been considered one of the best Secretary of States in the United States history; known for his judiciousness and reform efforts...
, Secretary of the Treasury Benjamin Bristow
Benjamin Bristow
Benjamin Helm Bristow was an American lawyer and Republican Party politician who served as the first Solicitor General of the United States and as a U.S. Treasury Secretary. Fighting for the Union, Bristow served in the army during the American Civil War and was promoted to Colonel...
, and Attorney General Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft was the Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant and the founder of an American political dynasty. He was the father of U.S...
. But, in his initial stages of choosing his 1869 cabinet, it was a hit-or-miss matter. Borie had been very friendly to Grant on a visit to Philadelphia that he chaired. Grant, considering that he owed something to Borie and to the Republicans in the Keystone State announced that there would be a man from Pennsylvania in his cabinet. When pressed for details ("was it a member of the Republican machine under Simon Cameron
Simon Cameron
Simon Cameron was an American politician who served as United States Secretary of War for Abraham Lincoln at the start of the American Civil War. After making his fortune in railways and banking, he turned to a life of politics. He became a U.S. senator in 1845 for the state of Pennsylvania,...
?") Grant's sense of humor took over and he became mysterious, talking about a "man from Philadelphia".
The question of who was this "man from Philadelphia" bothered the public, but the revelation it was Borie was met with amazement. Nobody had ever heard of him outside of Philadelphia. Borie had little interest in public office, and freely admitted that Admiral David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter was a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the United States Navy. Promoted as the second man to the rank of admiral, after his adoptive brother David G...
was the actual manager.
Borie disliked the Native American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
names borne by so many 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...
ships of the post-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...
era, and during his very short term as Secretary of the Navy, had a great many vessels renamed after states of the Union, creatures and personages from classical Greek or Roman mythology, or names that conveyed power or strength. A sample of names that Borie selected were Florida
USS Wampanoag (1864)
The first USS Wampanoag was a screw frigate in the United States Navy built during the American Civil War.-Development and design:Commerce raiding by CSS Alabama and CSS Florida, both built in English yards, reached a point in 1863 where continued peaceful relations between the United States and...
, "Centaur"
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
, and "Tornado"
USS Winnebago (1863)
USS Winnebago was a Milwaukee-class double-turret monitor, named for the Winnebago tribe of Siouan Indians that aided the US government during the Black Hawk War of 1832....
. His successor, George M. Robeson
George M. Robeson
George Maxwell Robeson was an American Republican Party politician and lawyer from New Jersey who served as a Union army general during the American Civil War, and then as Secretary of the Navy during the Grant administration. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1879 to...
, had most of these ships reverted to their original names a few months later. Ironically, Borie was a Philadelphian associated with the town of Manayunk
Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Manayunk is a neighborhood in the northwestern section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. Located on the banks of the Schuylkill River, it contains the first canal begun in the United States . The area's name comes from the language of the Lenape Indians...
(now a Philadelphia neighborhood), and one of the vessels that was never given back its original name was USS Manayunk
USS Ajax (1869)
-Construction and Commissioning:The contract for construction of USS Manayunk was signed by agents of the United States Navy and the shipbuilding firm of Snowden and Mason on 15 September 1862, and the keel of the Canonicus-class monitor was laid down shortly thereafter at Pittsburgh, PA The ship...
, which permanently kept its new name of USS Ajax
USS Ajax (1869)
-Construction and Commissioning:The contract for construction of USS Manayunk was signed by agents of the United States Navy and the shipbuilding firm of Snowden and Mason on 15 September 1862, and the keel of the Canonicus-class monitor was laid down shortly thereafter at Pittsburgh, PA The ship...
.
Borie served only a few months (March 9 to June 25) in the position. He returned to private life in order to resume his business interests, but remained close friends with Grant, who he joined for much of his world tour in 1879-1879. For his brief service, two ships were christened USS Borie
USS Borie
USS Borie may refer to:, a Clemson-class destroyer commissioned in 1920, served in World War II and sunk following battle damage in 1943., an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, commissioned in 1944 and decommissioned in 1972....
in his honor.
In his later business career, he interested himself in railroads and financial concerns. He was a noted patron of the arts.
External links
- The Borie Family Papers, including personal and professional correspondence, business records, and various other materials, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.