USN Lee, Samuel Phillips

Samuel Phillips Lee​

Born: February 14, 1812

Birthplace: Fairfax County, Virginia

Father: Francis Lightfoot Lee 1782 – 1850

(Buried: Christ Church Episcopal, Alexandria, Virginia)​

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Mother: Jane Fitzgerald 1789 – 1816

(Buried: Christ Church Episcopal, Alexandria, Virginia)​

Grandfather: Richard Henry Lee 1732 – 1794

(Buried: Burnt House Fields Cemetery, Coles Point, Virginia)​

Wife: Elizabeth Blair 1818 – 1906

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Children:

U.S. Senator Francis Preston Blair Lee 1857 – 1944​

(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Occupation before War:

1825 – 1837: Midshipman in United States Navy​

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1825 – 1826: Served on the U.S.S. Hornet in the West Indies​

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1827 – 1830: Served on the U.S.S. Java in the Mediterranean​

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Served on the U.S.S. Brandywine and U.S.S. Vincennes in the Pacific​

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1837 – 1855: Lt. in United States Navy​

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Commander of the Survey brig in Washington, D.C.​

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Present at the capture of Tabasco by Commodore Matthew C. Perry​

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1851: Extensive sounding cruise in the Atlantic on the U.S.S. Dolphin​

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1855 – 1862: Commander in the United States Navy​

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1860: Became Commander of the U.S.S. Vandalia​

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1861: He was at the cape of Good Hope when he learned of Secession​

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1861: Sailed his ship to home waters​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Assigned to blockading duty in Charleston, South Carolina​

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1862: Transferred to West Gulf Blockading Squadron​

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1862: Commander of the U.S.S. Oneida under Admiral Farragut​

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1862: Saved the U.S.S. Varuna from captured by Confederate navy​

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1862: Captured the Confederate steamer C.S.S. Governor Moore​

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Commander of U.S.S. Oneida in running past Vicksburg batteries​

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1862 – 1866: Captain in the United States Navy​

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Acting Rear Admiral in Command North Atlantic Blockading Squadron​

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He helped capture 50 blockade runners​

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Supported Major General Butler's Bermuda Hundred Campaign​

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1864 – 1865: Commander of Mississippi Squadron​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1866: Chief of Signal Corps in the United States Navy​

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1866 – 1870: Commodore in the United States Navy​

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1866 – 1870: President of United States Navy Board of Examination​

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1870 – 1872: Rear Admiral of United States Navy​

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1870 – 1872: Commander of U.S. Navy North Atlantic Squadron​

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1873: Retired from United States Navy in February​

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1873 – 1897: Retired Rear Admiral of United States Navy​

Died: June 5, 1897

Place of Death: Silver Spring, Maryland

Age at time of Death: 85 years old

Burial Place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

 

[ErnieMac]

3rd cousin of Robert E. Lee. Their common ancestor was gg grandfather Richard Lee II.

 

[Pollaco]

Said to be troublesome.Lee fought 2 duels early in his career. Plus he killed a passenger while on a Mississippi steamboat.

 

[Pollaco]

Highly successful on blockade duty,Lee was said to have received $100,000 in prize money.Said to be a record.In his 2+ years on blockade duty his Squadron grew from 48 to more than 100 ships.

 

[Pollaco]

Lee married an Elizabeth Blair and Francis and Montgonery Blair had a sister by that name. Were Lee and the Blairs brothers-in-law?

 

[ErnieMac]

Lee married an Elizabeth Blair and Francis and Montgonery Blair had a sister by that name. Were Lee and the Blairs brothers-in-law?

Yes.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Lincoln's Lee: The Life of Samuel Phillips Lee, United States Navy, 1812-1897 by Dudley Taylor Cornish, Virginia Laas

This is the first full-length biography of one of the key Union naval commanders during the Civil War. It is a fine one. Lee's career spanned 46 years, and this well-researched book not only portrays a principled, dedicated blue-water sailor but provides insight into the evolution of the U.S. Navy. Civil War scholars will find rich detail here. Lee's most conspicuous service was as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, but he also participated in Farragut's capture of New Orleans. A member of the prominent Lees of Virginia, he married into the equally influential Blair family. Anyone interested in 19th-century America will find this book useful. Thomas E. Schott, Office of History, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Lincoln's Lee: The Life of Samuel Phillips Lee, United States Navy, 1812-1897: Cornish, Dudley Taylor, Laas, Virginia: 9780700602964: Amazon.com: Books

Lincoln's Lee: The Life of Samuel Phillips Lee, United States Navy, 1812-1897 [Cornish, Dudley Taylor, Laas, Virginia] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Lincoln's Lee: The Life of Samuel Phillips Lee, United States Navy, 1812-1897

www.amazon.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

When asked about his loyalty, Lee famously replied, "When I find the word Virginia in my commission I will join the Confederacy." - Thunder at Hampton Roads by Adolph A. Hoehling

Cheers,
USS ALASKA