David McDougal
Encyclopedia
David Stockton McDougal (September 27, 1809 – August 7, 1882) was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
most noted for his leadership during a naval battle off of Japan
.
, McDougal was appointed as a midshipman
on April 1, 1828. During the next three decades, he served in the Mediterranean, West Indian
, and Home Squadron
s as well as on the Great Lakes
in Michigan
. While serving in the USS Mississippi
from 1846 to 1848, during the Mexican War
, McDougal participated in Commodore Matthew C. Perry's Mosquito Fleet Campaign and the blockade
and siege
of Veracruz
. He later commanded the sloop-of-war
from 1854 to 1856, the steam tug in 1856, and the screw sloop
from 1862 to 1864, in which he cruised in the Far East
protecting American merchant ships from pirates and Confederate
raiders.
On July 16, 1863, in the Battle of Shimonoseki Straits, Wyoming boldly entered the Straits of Shimonoseki
to engage shore batteries and three ships of Prince Mori
, clan chieftain of the Chōshū. During an hour’s brisk action, McDougal sank two ships and heavily damaged another, then pounded enemy shore guns. On December 23, 1869, McDougal assumed command of the South Pacific Squadron
.
He was placed on the retired list on September 27, 1871, and appointed rear admiral
on August 24, 1873. He died at San Francisco, California
, and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California
.
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...
most noted for his leadership during a naval battle off of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Biography
Born in OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, McDougal was appointed 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 April 1, 1828. During the next three decades, he served in the Mediterranean, West Indian
West Indies Squadron (United States)
The West Indies Squadron, or the West Indies Station, was a United States Navy squadron that operated in the West Indies in the early nineteenth century. It was formed due to the need to suppress piracy in the Caribbean Sea, the Antilles and the Gulf of Mexico region of the Atlantic Ocean...
, and Home Squadron
Home Squadron
The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy and the slave trade, make coastal surveys, and train ships to relieve others on distant stations...
s as well as on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. While serving in the USS Mississippi
USS Mississippi (1841)
USS Mississippi, a paddle frigate, was the first ship of the United States Navy to bear that name. She was named for the Mississippi River. Her sister ship was . Her keel was laid down by the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1839; built under the personal supervision of Commodore Matthew Perry. She was...
from 1846 to 1848, during the Mexican War
Mexican War
Mexican War may refer to:*Mexican War of Independence *Mexican–American War *French intervention in Mexico *Mexican Revolution *Mexican Civil War *Cristero War *Mexican Drug War...
, McDougal participated in Commodore Matthew C. Perry's Mosquito Fleet Campaign and the blockade
Blockade of Veracruz
The Blockade of Veracruz was a conflict during the Mexican-American War.The blockade of Veracriz was extremely important in the Mexican-American War. It allowed the U.S. Army to land troops in Veracruz and initiate their siege....
and siege
Siege of Veracruz
The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexican beachhead seaport of Veracruz, during the Mexican-American War. Lasting from 9-29 March 1847, it began with the first large-scale amphibious assault conducted by United States military forces, and ended with the surrender and occupation...
of Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
. He later commanded the sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
from 1854 to 1856, the steam tug in 1856, and 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...
from 1862 to 1864, in which he cruised in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
protecting American merchant ships from pirates and 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...
raiders.
On July 16, 1863, in the Battle of Shimonoseki Straits, Wyoming boldly entered the Straits of Shimonoseki
Kanmon Straits
The Kanmon Straits or the Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japan's four main islands. On the Honshū side of the water is Shimonoseki and on the Kyūshū side is Kitakyūshū, whose former city and present ward, Moji , gave the strait its "mon"...
to engage shore batteries and three ships of Prince Mori
Mōri Takachika
was the 14th daimyo of Chōshū Domain. He was later allowed to use a character from the name of shogun Tokugawa Ieyoshi and changed his name to Yoshichika...
, clan chieftain of the Chōshū. During an hour’s brisk action, McDougal sank two ships and heavily damaged another, then pounded enemy shore guns. On December 23, 1869, McDougal assumed 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 was placed on the retired list on September 27, 1871, and appointed 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 :...
on August 24, 1873. He died at San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.