James Shedden Palmer
Encyclopedia
James Shedden Palmer was an officer in the United States Navy
during the Civil War
. He was later promoted to admiral
.
January 1, 1825. He commanded during the Mexican-American War, and and during the Civil War. He commanded the Naval Station at New Orleans
and the West Gulf Squadron during 1864. Appointed to command the West Indies Squadron
in 1865, he was commissioned Rear Admiral on July 25, 1866 and died at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
. He returned to the United States in January 1862, where he was on leave, without orders, until March, when he was re-appointed commander of the Iroquois. He saw service as part of Farragut's Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, and was one of the captains present at the attack and capture of New Orleans, and at Farragut's attempt to do the same at Vicksburg in 1862. Promoted to Captain for his role in the victory at New Orleans in July of that year, the following month he took command of Farragut's flagship Hartford. On February 7, 1863, Palmer was promoted to Commodore.
In January 1864, he was made senior officer of naval forces on the Mississippi in the vicinity of New Orleans and concurrently the commanding officer of until April of that year, when he assumed command of in place of the Pensacola. In August he became commanding officer of the 1st Division of Ironclads, Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, with as his flagship (ironic, as Richmond was not an ironclad). He held this post until November 1864. He was then acting commander of Farragut's squadron during the latter's absence from November 1864 to February 1865. He then reverted to his previous post, which he held until May 1865.
That December he was appointed commander of the North Atlantic Squadron
, with serving as his flagship. On July 25, 1866, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. While still commanding the North Atlantic Squadron, Rear Admiral James S. Palmer died of yellow fever
at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
. He was buried in New York City
.
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 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 later promoted to admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
.
Biography
Palmer was born at Elizabethtown, New Jersey. He entered the United States Navy on August 26, 1824, as Ship's Boy, aboard . Palmer was appointed MidshipmanMidshipman
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...
January 1, 1825. He commanded during the Mexican-American War, and and during the Civil War. He commanded the Naval Station at New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and the West Gulf Squadron during 1864. Appointed to command the West Indies Squadron
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...
in 1865, he was commissioned Rear Admiral on July 25, 1866 and died at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Ranks held
- Ship's Boy - August 26, 1824
- Midshipman - January 1, 1825
- Passed MidshipmanPassed midshipmanA Passed Midshipman, sometimes called as Midshipman, Passed, is an unused and historic term which describes a Midshipman who had passed the Lieutenant exam and was eligible for promotion to Lieutenant as soon as there was a vacancy in that grade....
- June 4, 1831 - Lieutenant - December 17, 1836
- Commander - September 14, 1855
- Captain - July 16, 1862
- Commodore - February 7, 1863
- Rear Admiral - July 25, 1866
Civil War service
Palmer was commanding officer of Iroquois, which was part of the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron at the time of the attack on Fort SumterBattle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, that started the American Civil War. Following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the U.S. Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. On...
. He returned to the United States in January 1862, where he was on leave, without orders, until March, when he was re-appointed commander of the Iroquois. He saw service as part of Farragut's Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, and was one of the captains present at the attack and capture of New Orleans, and at Farragut's attempt to do the same at Vicksburg in 1862. Promoted to Captain for his role in the victory at New Orleans in July of that year, the following month he took command of Farragut's flagship Hartford. On February 7, 1863, Palmer was promoted to Commodore.
In January 1864, he was made senior officer of naval forces on the Mississippi in the vicinity of New Orleans and concurrently the commanding officer of until April of that year, when he assumed command of in place of the Pensacola. In August he became commanding officer of the 1st Division of Ironclads, Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, with as his flagship (ironic, as Richmond was not an ironclad). He held this post until November 1864. He was then acting commander of Farragut's squadron during the latter's absence from November 1864 to February 1865. He then reverted to his previous post, which he held until May 1865.
Postbellum career
From May through December 1865, Palmer held administrative posts in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
That December he was appointed commander of the North Atlantic Squadron
North Atlantic Squadron
The North Atlantic Squadron was a section of the United States Navy operating in the North Atlantic. It was renamed as the North Atlantic Fleet in 1902. In 1905 the European and South Atlantic Squadrons were abolished and absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet. On Jan...
, with serving as his flagship. On July 25, 1866, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. While still commanding the North Atlantic Squadron, Rear Admiral James S. Palmer died 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....
at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
. He was buried in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.