Ralph Chandler
Encyclopedia
Ralph Chandler was a Rear Admiral
of the United States Navy
. He saw action during the Mexican–American War
and the American Civil War
, and later served as Commander of the Asiatic Squadron
.
, the son of Daniel Chandler, a lawyer. He joined the Navy as midshipman on 17 September 1845, and was sent to the Naval Academy
. After graduation he was assigned to the razee
, flagship of the Pacific Squadron
. He took part in Pacific-coast operations of the Mexican–American War
, being in two engagements near Mazatlán
.
Chandler served in the sloop from 1849 to 1850, and was promoted to Passed midshipman
in 1851. After a tour of duty at the Naval Academy in 1852, he served in the sloop in the Mediterranean Squadron till 1855, in which year he became successively Master and Lieutenant.
Between 1855 and 1859 Chandler was engaged on the coast survey and the survey of the Paraná River
, and was serving in the sloop at the outbreak of the Civil War
, seeing action in her at the battle of Port Royal
in November 1861. The next year he was assigned to the steam-sloop of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, in which he was present at the engagement with the Sewell's Point
batteries and the capture of Norfolk, Virginia
.
On 16 July 1862, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander and commanded the screw steamer
in the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. Transferred to the steam-gunboat of the North Atlantic Squadron, Chandler fought his ship at the bombardment and fall of Fort Fisher
and the capture of Wilmington
in early 1865, receiving promotion to Commander on 25 July 1866.
For two years he commanded the steamer , and was on ordnance duty at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
in 1868. The next year Chandler commanded the steamer . He was promoted to Captain in 1874, and then to Commodore in 1884, serving as Commandant
of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
On 6 October 1886, Chandler was commissioned as Rear-Admiral and was ordered to relieve Rear-Admiral John L. Davis
in command of the Asiatic Squadron
. He died in Hong Kong
of apoplexy
in February 1889.
He was married to Cornelia Redfield, with whom he had five children, three girls and two boys.
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 :...
of the 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...
. He saw action during the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
and 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...
, and later served as Commander of the Asiatic Squadron
Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century, it was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded...
.
Biography
Chandler was born in Batavia, New YorkBatavia (town), New York
Batavia is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 5,915 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Roman name for part of the Netherlands....
, the son of Daniel Chandler, a lawyer. He joined the Navy as midshipman on 17 September 1845, and was sent to the Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. After graduation he was assigned to the razee
Razee
A razee or razée is a sailing ship that has been cut down to reduce the number of decks. The word is derived from the French vaisseau rasé, meaning a razed ship.-Sixteenth century:...
, flagship of 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...
. He took part in Pacific-coast operations of the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
, being in two engagements near Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
.
Chandler served in the sloop from 1849 to 1850, and was promoted to Passed midshipman
Passed midshipman
A 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....
in 1851. After a tour of duty at the Naval Academy in 1852, he served in the sloop in the Mediterranean Squadron till 1855, in which year he became successively Master and Lieutenant.
Between 1855 and 1859 Chandler was engaged on the coast survey and the survey of the Paraná River
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
, and was serving in the sloop at the outbreak of 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...
, seeing action in her at 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...
in November 1861. The next year he was assigned to the steam-sloop of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, in which he was present at the engagement with the Sewell's Point
Sewell's Point
Sewells Point is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water port of Hampton Roads. Sewells Point is bordered by water on three sides, with Willoughby Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and the Lafayette...
batteries and the capture of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
On 16 July 1862, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander and commanded the screw steamer
Screw steamer
A screw steamer or screw steamship is a steamship or steamboat, powered by a steam engine, using one or more propellors, also known as screws, to propel it through the water....
in the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. Transferred to the steam-gunboat of the North Atlantic Squadron, Chandler fought his ship at the bombardment and fall of Fort Fisher
Second Battle of Fort Fisher
The Second Battle of Fort Fisher was a joint assault by Union Army and naval forces against Fort Fisher, outside Wilmington, North Carolina, near the end of the American Civil War...
and the capture of Wilmington
Battle of Wilmington
The Battle of Wilmington was fought February 11 – February 22, 1865, during the American Civil War. It was a direct result of the Union victory at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.-Background:...
in early 1865, receiving promotion to Commander on 25 July 1866.
For two years he commanded the steamer , and was on ordnance duty at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
in 1868. The next year Chandler commanded the steamer . He was promoted to Captain in 1874, and then to Commodore in 1884, serving as Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
On 6 October 1886, Chandler was commissioned as Rear-Admiral and was ordered to relieve Rear-Admiral John L. Davis
John L. Davis
John Lee Davis was a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy, who served during the American Civil War, and later commanded the Asiatic Squadron.-Biography:Davis was born in Carlisle, Indiana, on 3 September 1825...
in command of the Asiatic Squadron
Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century, it was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded...
. He died in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
in February 1889.
He was married to Cornelia Redfield, with whom he had five children, three girls and two boys.