James Alden Jr.
Born: Mach 31, 1810
Birthplace: Portland, Maine
Father: Captain James Alden Sr. 1775 – 1853
(Buried: Eastern Cemetery, Portland, Maine)
Mother: Elizabeth Tate 1780 – 1824
(Buried: Eastern Cemetery, Portland, Maine)
Wife: Sarah Ann Thompson 1815 – 1889
(Buried: Eastern Cemetery, Portland, Maine)
Occupation before War:
1828 – 1834: Midshipman for United States Navy
Assigned to the Naval Station at Boston, Massachusetts
Served in the Mediterranean on the U.S.S. John Adams
Served on 2 World Tours with United States Navy
1834 – 1841: Passed Midship for United States Navy
1838 – 1842: Went on his voyage
1840: Saw action at Malolo in the Fiji Islands in Punitive Expedition
1841 – 1855: 1st Lt. United States Navy
Executive Officer for U.S.S. Porpoise
Assigned to the U.S.S. Constitution during Capt. Percival’s Cruise
1846 – 1847: Served in the Home Squadron during Mexican War
1847: Served in the Capture of Vera Cruz, Mexico
1847: Served in the Battle of Tuxpan, Mexico
1847: Served in the Second Battle of Tabasco, Mexico
1847 – 1849: Inspector of Provisions and Clothing in Boston, Massachusetts
1849 – 1851: Served on the United States Coast Survey
1852: Surveyed from San Francisco, to San Diego, California
1852 – 1861: Commander of U.S.S. Steamer Active
1855 – 1866: Commander in United States Navy
1859: Served in the Pig War
Civil War Career:
1861: Commander of U.S.S. South Carolina for relief of Fort Pickens
Transferred blockade duty off Galveston, Texas
Captured 13 Confederate Schooners off Galveston, Texas
1863 – 1871: Captain in United States Navy
Commander of U.S.S. Richmond when Union fleet passed Ft. Jackson
1864: Commander of U.S.S. Brooklyn at Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama
1864: Served in the attacks at Fort Fisher, North Carolina
Occupation after War:
1866 – 1871: Commodore in United States Navy
Commander of U.S.S. Susquehanna, and U.S.S. Minnesota
Commandant of Mare Island Navy Yard
1869 – 1871: Chief of U.S. Navy, Bureau of Navigation
1871 – 1873: Rear Admiral of the United States Navy
1871 – 1873: Commander of U.S.S. Wabash
1872: Placed on Retired List, but stayed in command until relieved
1873: Sailed for his home on the U.S.S. Brooklyn
Died: February 6, 1877
Place of Death: San Francisco, California
Age at time of Death: 66 years old
Place of Death: Eastern Cemetery, Portland, Maine
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