Theodore Phinney Greene
(July 4, 1809 ? August 30, 1887), was a
rear admiral
of the
United States Navy
, who fought on the side of the
Union
during the
American Civil War
.
Early life
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Greene was born in
Mount Pleasant, Texas
, the son of Eli and Patience "Phinney" Green. According to information from the family, his father died when Theodore was quite young. He then lived with and was raised by his uncle, Asa Greene, in
Brattleboro, Vermont
.
He was appointed midshipman from
Vermont
on November 6, 1826. He served on the frigate
Constellation
in the Mediterranean in 1832, the sloop
Vincennes
in the
Pacific Squadron
, and participated in a circumnavigation of the world between 1834 and 1836. He served on the
razee
Independence
in the Brazil Squadron from 1837 to 1838, where he was promoted to lieutenant on March 31, 1838.
During the
Mexican?American War
, he served on
Congress
in the Pacific Squadron and spent nine months in command of land forces at
Mazatlan
.
He married Mary Minot, the daughter of William and Mary Morse Ainsworth of
New Ipswich, New Hampshire
on October 17, 1849,
Greene later served on
Cyane
, and from 1854 to 1856 was stationed at the
Boston Navy Yard
. Promoted to commander on September 14, 1855, he served as lighthouse inspector of the First District from November 1857 until 1860, when he assumed command of the
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
, near San Francisco, California.
American Civil War
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He was promoted to captain on July 16, 1862, and commanded
Santiago de Cuba
, and later
San Jacinto
, in the East Gulf Squadron. He was briefly commander
pro tempore
of the squadron from August to October 1864, during which time he suffered an attack of
yellow fever
.
On January 25, 1865, he relieved Captain
Thornton Jenkins
as commander of
Richmond
, attached to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. He participated in the capture of
Mobile, Alabama
in March and April, returning to the
New Orleans
area at the end of April. On April 24,
Richmond
participated in the capture of the Confederate ram
William H. Webb
, commanded by Confederate raider
Charles Read
.
Postwar career
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After the war, Greene served on ordnance duty in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, and, in 1867, was ordered to command
Powhatan
, in the Pacific Squadron. On July 24, 1867, he was promoted to Commodore, was appointed a member of the Board of Visitors at the
Naval Academy
on May 4, 1868. He assumed command of the
Pensacola Navy Yard
on October 15, 1868, where he remained until March 1872, when he was retired. On July 5, 1876, he was placed on the retired list with the rank of rear admiral effective by March 24, 1872.
Rear Admiral Greene died in
Jaffrey, New Hampshire
, on August 30, 1887.
His papers, 1863?1866, are located at the
New York Historical Society
in New York City.
See also
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Vermont in the Civil War
References
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- Cabot, Mary,
Annals of Brattleboro, 1681?1895
, Brattleboro, Vt.: Press of E.L. Hildreth & Co., 1922, vol. 2, pp. 821?822
- Peck, Theodore S., compiler,
Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters Who Served in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, 1861?66
. Montpelier, VT.: Press of the Watchman Publishing Co., 1892, p. 692.
External links
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