Franklin Buchanan

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Franklin Buchanan
Battles/warsMexican–American War
American Civil War
Other workCollege president and businessman

Franklin Buchanan (September 17, 1800 – May 11, 1874) was an officer in the United States Navy who became the only full admiral in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. He also commanded the ironclad CSS Virginia.

Early life

Franklin Buchanan was born in

maternal grandfather Thomas McKean was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence
.

Captain Franklin Buchanan, USN (circa 1855–1861)

He joined the U.S. Navy on January 28, 1815, and became a midshipman; he was promoted to lieutenant on January 13, 1825, commander on September 8, 1841, and then captain on September 14, 1855.[1]

On February 19, 1835, at Annapolis, Maryland, he married Ann Catherine Lloyd. They had nine children: eight daughters and a son.

U.S. Navy

During the 45 years he served in the U.S. Navy, Buchanan had extensive and worldwide sea duty. He commanded the

U.S. Secretary of the Navy, he submitted plans to his superiors proposing a naval school which would lead to the creation of the United States Naval Academy that very year; for his efforts, he was appointed the first superintendent of the Naval School—its first name—where he served in 1845–1847. This assignment was followed by notable Mexican–American War service in 1847–1848. From 1859 to 1861, Buchanan was the commandant of the Washington Navy Yard
.

With the Civil War upon him, he resigned his commission on April 22, 1861, expecting his home state of Maryland to eventually secede. When that did not happen, he tried to recall his resignation, but U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles said he did not want traitors or half-hearted patriots in his navy and refused to reinstate him.[1] Thus in May 1861 he was out of the U.S. Navy.

Civil War

Pennant of Admiral Buchanan used at Mobile Bay (variation of naval jack)

On September 5, 1861, Franklin Buchanan joined the Confederate Navy and was given a captain's commission. On February 24, 1862, the

ironclad CSS Virginia
to be his flagship.

Buchanan was the captain of CSS Virginia (formerly

minie ball to the thigh. He would eventually recover from his leg wound. He did not get to command Virginia against USS Monitor. That honor went to Catesby ap Roger Jones.[4]

Franklin Buchanan & Josiah Tattnall III, another flag officer, CSN

In August 1862, Buchanan was promoted to the rank of full admiral – the only officer so honored in the Confederate Navy – and was sent to take command of Confederate naval forces stationed at

David Glasgow Farragut's Union fleet on August 5, 1864.[6] Wounded and taken prisoner, Buchanan was not exchanged until February 1865.[6]

Later life

Following the conflict, Buchanan lived in Maryland and in Mobile, Alabama, until 1870, when he again took up residence in Maryland. He died there on May 11, 1874. He is buried at the Wye House family plot outside Easton, Maryland.

Legacy

Three U.S. Navy destroyers have been named Buchanan in honor of Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan: DD-131 (Wickes class), DD-484 (Gleaves class), and DDG-14 (Charles F. Adams class). The superintendent's quarters at the United States Naval Academy is named the Buchanan House and a street on the Academy grounds is named Buchanan Road. However, in 2023, a naming commission created by federal law to reexamine Confederate-related names and symbols on military installations recommended that Buchanan House and Buchanan Road be renamed.[7] On May 1, 2023, it was announced the Superintendent's quarters will be renamed Farragut House to honor Admiral David Glasgow Farragut.[8]

See also

  • List of superintendents of the United States Naval Academy

References

  1. ^ a b c d Quarstein, "Franklin Buchanan"
  2. ^ Symonds, p. 152.
  3. ^ Jones, Terry L., Historical dictionary of the Civil War, Lanham, Scarecrow Press, 2011, p . 638.
  4. ^ United States Naval Institute Proceedings, Volume 88, U.S. Naval Institute, 1962, p. 68.
  5. ^ Tucker, Spencer, Almanac of American military history, Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 2013, p. 668.
  6. ^ a b Symonds, p. 254.
  7. ^ "Naval Academy renames Maury Hall for President Jimmy Carter in effort to remove Confederate symbols". February 17, 2023.
  8. ^ "SECNAV Renames United States Naval Academy Superintendent's Quarters after Admiral Farragu".

Bibliography

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
None
Superintendent of United States Naval Academy

1845–1847
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the James River Squadron
February 27, 1862 – March 29, 1862
Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by
President of the Maryland Agricultural College

1868–1869
Succeeded by