United States Naval Officer. The son of a clergyman who had served as a United States Navy chaplain, he got his first taste of the sea when he accompanied his father on a cruise on the USS Philadelphia, which at the time was commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, Sr. Enlisted in the United States Navy out of the merchant marine on June 25, 1812, he was commissioned as a Sailing Master. Stationed on board the USS Saratoga under Captain Thomas MacDonough, he was serving as an acting Lieutenant during the September 11, 1814 Battle of Lake Champlain. His performance there was exemplary, receiving the praise of Captain MacDonough, garnering him a medal, and facilitating his promotion to full Lieutenant on December 9, 1814. He remained in the Navy for the rest of his life, receiving promotions to Commander on March 3, 1831, and to Captain on February 23, 1840. When Commodore Isaac Hull was dispatched in 1837 to assume command of the United States Navy's Mediterranean Squadron in 1837, he brought along Elie Lavalette to be his second command, having served with him on the USS Constitution from 1824 to 1828. During the 1846-1848 Mexican war, he commanded the first USS Independence and later the sloop USS Congress (which was later destroyed by the ironclad CSS Merrimac during the Civil War), and served as military governor of Mazatlan. He headed the Navy's East Indian, the African, and the Mediterranean Squadrons before retiring in the 1850s. During the Civil War he was appointed to be one of the first Rear-Admirals on July 16, 1862 after President Abraham Lincoln authorized that rank for the Navy. He died four months later, having spent 50 years in the naval service of his country. Two US Navy destroyers (DD-315 and DD-448) were named for him, and the resort town of Lavalette, New Jersey was named for him by his son, who co-founded the shore municipality.
United States Naval Officer. The son of a clergyman who had served as a United States Navy chaplain, he got his first taste of the sea when he accompanied his father on a cruise on the USS Philadelphia, which at the time was commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, Sr. Enlisted in the United States Navy out of the merchant marine on June 25, 1812, he was commissioned as a Sailing Master. Stationed on board the USS Saratoga under Captain Thomas MacDonough, he was serving as an acting Lieutenant during the September 11, 1814 Battle of Lake Champlain. His performance there was exemplary, receiving the praise of Captain MacDonough, garnering him a medal, and facilitating his promotion to full Lieutenant on December 9, 1814. He remained in the Navy for the rest of his life, receiving promotions to Commander on March 3, 1831, and to Captain on February 23, 1840. When Commodore Isaac Hull was dispatched in 1837 to assume command of the United States Navy's Mediterranean Squadron in 1837, he brought along Elie Lavalette to be his second command, having served with him on the USS Constitution from 1824 to 1828. During the 1846-1848 Mexican war, he commanded the first USS Independence and later the sloop USS Congress (which was later destroyed by the ironclad CSS Merrimac during the Civil War), and served as military governor of Mazatlan. He headed the Navy's East Indian, the African, and the Mediterranean Squadrons before retiring in the 1850s. During the Civil War he was appointed to be one of the first Rear-Admirals on July 16, 1862 after President Abraham Lincoln authorized that rank for the Navy. He died four months later, having spent 50 years in the naval service of his country. Two US Navy destroyers (DD-315 and DD-448) were named for him, and the resort town of Lavalette, New Jersey was named for him by his son, who co-founded the shore municipality.
Bio by: RPD2
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