John Henry Russell

For other people with the same name, see John Russell.

John Henry Russell
Born	(1827-07-04)4 July 1827 Frederick, Maryland
Died	1 April 1897(1897-04-01) (aged 69) Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1841–1886
Rank	Rear admiral
Commands	Kennebec Pontiac Cyane
Battles / wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War
Relations	John H. Russell, Jr. (son) Brooke Astor (granddaughter)

Rear Admiral John Henry Russell (4 July 1827 – 1 April 1897) was an officer of the United States Navy during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.

Biography

Russell was born at Frederick, Maryland on 4 July 1827 to Sir James Henry Russell and Martha Wilson Russell. He was appointed midshipman on 10 September 1841 and served aboard the sloop of war USS Cyane in the Pacific until 1843. He returned on the frigate United States in 1844 and then served aboard St. Mary's in the Gulf of Mexico from 1844 to 1846. He participated in operations at Galveston, Corpus Christi, Brazos, Resaca, and Vera Cruz.

After duty with Allegheny in 1847, he graduated at the United States Naval Academy in 1848. Briefly assigned to United States Coast Survey duty, he made a cruise to Brazil in 1849, then served on the New York-West Indies mail line from 1853 to 1856, and served as navigator on Vincennes during explorations of the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron at the end of the decade, he returned to the United States and ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard just prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War.

In April 1861, he assisted in preventing ships at Norfolk from falling to the enemy; and, in September, he led a boat expedition into Pensacola Harbor to destroy the Confederate privateer Judah. He next assumed command of the gunboat Kennebec and participated in operations on the Mississippi River up to Vicksburg and served in the blockade of Mobile. Commanding Pontiac in 1863, he returned to ordnance duty at Washington in 1864 and to the Pacific Squadron to serve as commanding officer of Cyane in 1864–65.

Various duties, afloat and ashore, on both coasts, Atlantic and Pacific, followed, and he completed his last assignment, three years as Commandant of the Mare Island Navy Yard, in 1886. Appointed rear admiral on 4 March 1886, he retired on 27 August, and resided in Washington, D.C., until his death on 1 April 1897.

Family

Admiral Russell's son, Major General John H. Russell Jr., was a career officer in the United States Marine Corps who rose to become the Commandant of the Marine Corps. His granddaughter was Brooke Astor, a noted philanthropist and socialite.

Memberships

Admiral Russell was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Military Order of Foreign Wars (insignia number 100).

Namesake

In 1938, the destroyer Russell (DD-414) was named in his honor, while Russell (DDG-59) was named for both him and his son, Major General John H. Russell, Jr., USMC.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.