David Dixon Porter

Place: Chester

Born: 1813

Death: 1891

Biography:

David Dixon Porter was a United States Navy admiral and a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the U.S. Navy. He began naval service as a midshipman at the age of 10 years under his father, Commodore David Porter, on the frigate USS John Adams.

Early Life and Career

He served in the Mexican War in the attack on the fort at the City of Vera Cruz. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was part of a plan to hold Fort Pickens, near Pensacola, Florida, for the Union; its execution disrupted the effort to relieve the garrison at Fort Sumter, leading to Sumter's fall. Porter commanded an independent flotilla of mortar boats at the capture of New Orleans. Later, he was advanced to the rank of (acting) rear admiral in command of the Mississippi River Squadron, which cooperated with the army under Major General Ulysses S. Grant in the Vicksburg Campaign.

Notable Achievements

After the fall of Vicksburg, he led the naval forces in the difficult Red River Campaign in Louisiana. Late in 1864, Porter was transferred from the interior to the Atlantic coast, where he led the U.S. Navy in the joint assaults on Fort Fisher, the final significant naval action of the war. Reforms and Legacy Porter worked to raise the standards of the U.S. Navy in the position of Superintendent of the Naval Academy when it was restored to Annapolis. He initiated reforms in the curriculum to increase professionalism. In the early days of President Grant's administration, Porter was de facto Secretary of the Navy. When his adoptive brother David G. Farragut was advanced from rank of vice-admiral to admiral, Porter took his previous position; likewise, when Farragut died, Porter became the second man to hold the newly created rank of admiral. He gathered a corps of like-minded officers devoted to naval reform. Artistic Legacy As a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the U.S. Navy, David Dixon Porter's legacy extends beyond his military achievements. His story is a testament to the importance of family and tradition in shaping one's career and contributions. To learn more about David Dixon Porter, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/David-Dixon-Porter, where you can find information on his life, career, and achievements. Additionally, you can explore the USS John Adams and other notable ships at https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/All-Popular-Artworks.

• Visit https://Wikioo.org/@/David-Dixon-Porter to learn more about David Dixon Porter.
• Explore the USS John Adams and other notable ships at https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/All-Popular-Artworks.
• Discover the Naval Academy and its history at https://Wikioo.org/@/Naval-Academy.

Note: The biography is based on the provided text and may not be a comprehensive or entirely accurate account of David Dixon Porter's life.