James L. Lardner
Encyclopedia
James Lawrence Lardner was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
, he was the sixth son of John Lardner and Margaret (née Saltar) Lardner. Lardner was appointed midshipman
on 10 May 1820. He served in the Pacific Squadron
from 1821 to 1824, and joined the Mediterranean Squadron in 1825 after escorting General Lafayette in back to France
.
He received promotion to lieutenant on May 17, 1828, and served as navigating officer of the sloop on her historic circumnavigation
, and then served on the flagships of the Mediterranean, Brazil
and Pacific Squadron
s. In 1850 he sailed for the coast of Africa in the brig and was promoted to commander on May 17, 1851. Lardner spent three years as commander of Porpoise and the sloop-of-war in the Africa Squadron
before returning to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1853. He was promoted to the rank of captain, on May 19, 1861.
In September 1861, during the Civil War, Lardner, in command of the frigate
, took a pertinent part in the Battle of Port Royal
and the capture of Forts Walker
and Beauregard
. He was commended for gallantry in action by Rear Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont; his name was sent to Congress
for a vote of thanks by President
Abraham Lincoln
. In May 1862, be assumed command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and was promoted to commodore on 16 July 1862. In December 1862 he returned to Philadelphia to recover from a severe attack of yellow fever
. From May 1863 to October 1864, Lardner commanded the West India Squadron.
After his retirement on 20 November 1864, he was appointed rear admiral on 25 July 1866. He served on special duty with various boards until 1869, when he was appointed Governor of the Naval Asylum, Philadelphia
. He held this post until 1871.
Lardner died on 12 April 1881 in Philadelphia.
It was because of James Lawrence Lardner that one of his nephews came to be known as Ring Lardner
: James Lardner was a friend of Cadwalader Ringgold
, another Navy officer who also became a rear admiral. James Lardner named one of his sons "Ringgold Wilmer Lardner", and James' brother gave exactly the same name to his own son after the newborn's cousin. Ring Lardner never liked his given name and shortened it, yet he "lost the battle" when his son, Ring Lardner, Jr. was named after him.
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...
.
Biography
Born at Philadelphia, 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 was the sixth son of John Lardner and Margaret (née Saltar) Lardner. Lardner was appointed 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 10 May 1820. He served in the 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...
from 1821 to 1824, and joined the Mediterranean Squadron in 1825 after escorting General Lafayette in back to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
He received promotion to lieutenant on May 17, 1828, and served as navigating officer of the sloop on her historic circumnavigation
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
, and then served on the flagships of the Mediterranean, Brazil
Brazil Squadron
The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina...
and 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...
s. In 1850 he sailed for the coast of Africa in the brig and was promoted to commander on May 17, 1851. Lardner spent three years as commander of Porpoise and the sloop-of-war in the Africa Squadron
Africa Squadron
The Africa Squadron was a unit of the United States Navy that operated from 1819 to 1861 to suppress the slave trade along the coast of West Africa...
before returning to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1853. He was promoted to the rank of captain, on May 19, 1861.
In September 1861, during the Civil War, Lardner, in command of the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
, took a pertinent part in the Battle of Port Royal
Battle of Port Royal
The Battle of Port Royal was one of the earliest amphibious operations of the American Civil War, in which a United States Navy fleet and United States Army expeditionary force captured Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, between Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, on November 7, 1861...
and the capture of Forts Walker
Fort Walker
Fort Walker was a Civil War redoubt located on what is now the southeastern corner of Grant Park in Atlanta, Georgia.-History:The redoubt was built by Confederate forces in 1863....
and Beauregard
Fort Beauregard
Fort Beauregard, located half a mile north of the village of Harrisonburg, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, was one of four Confederate forts guarding the Ouachita River during the American Civil War...
. He was commended for gallantry in action by Rear Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont; his name was sent to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for a vote of thanks by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. In May 1862, be assumed command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and was promoted to commodore on 16 July 1862. In December 1862 he returned to Philadelphia to recover from a severe attack of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
. From May 1863 to October 1864, Lardner commanded the West India Squadron.
After his retirement on 20 November 1864, he was appointed rear admiral on 25 July 1866. He served on special duty with various boards until 1869, when he was appointed Governor of the Naval Asylum, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Naval Asylum
The Philadelphia Naval Asylum, later the Naval Home, was a hospital, the Philadelphia Naval School, and a home for retired sailors for the United States Navy from 1834 to 1976, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. He held this post until 1871.
Lardner died on 12 April 1881 in Philadelphia.
Personal life
Lardner married Margaret Wilmer on February 2, 1832, and they had three children, two of which died in infancy. After his wife's death on April 25, 1846, he married her sister Ellen Wilmer, and had two further sons.It was because of James Lawrence Lardner that one of his nephews came to be known as Ring Lardner
Ring Lardner
Ringgold Wilmer Lardner was an American sports columnist and short story writer best known for his satirical takes on the sports world, marriage, and the theatre.-Personal life:...
: James Lardner was a friend of Cadwalader Ringgold
Cadwalader Ringgold
Cadwalader Ringgold was an officer in the United States Navy who served in the United States Exploring Expedition, later headed an expedition to the Northwest and, after initially retiring, returned to service during the Civil War....
, another Navy officer who also became a rear admiral. James Lardner named one of his sons "Ringgold Wilmer Lardner", and James' brother gave exactly the same name to his own son after the newborn's cousin. Ring Lardner never liked his given name and shortened it, yet he "lost the battle" when his son, Ring Lardner, Jr. was named after him.