Charles Goodwin Ridgely (July 2, 1784 – February 8, 1848) was an officer in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. He fought under

Edward Preble Edward Preble (August 15, 1761 – August 25, 1807) was a United States naval officer who served with great distinction during the First Barbary War, 1st Barbary War, leading American attacks on the city of Tripoli, Libya, Tripoli and formin ...

in the

First Barbary War The First Barbary War (1801–1805), also known as the Tripolitan War and the Barbary Coast War, was a conflict during the Barbary Wars, in which the United States and Sweden fought against Tripolitania. Tripolitania had declared war against Sw ...

(1804–1805), before serving as the commander of the

Pacific Station The Pacific Station was created in 1837 as one of the geographical military formations into which the Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities. The South America Station was split into the Pacific Station and the South East Coast of A ...

(1820–1822), the West Indies Squadron (1827–1830), the

Brooklyn Navy Yard The Brooklyn Navy Yard (originally known as the New York Navy Yard) is a shipyard and industrial complex located in northwest Brooklyn in New York City, New York. The Navy Yard is located on the East River in Wallabout Bay, a semicircular bend ...

(1833–1839), and the

Brazil Squadron The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina. When th ...

(1840–1842).

Early life and family

Charles Ridgely Goodwin was born in

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

on July 2, 1784 to Dr. Lyde Goodwin (February 4, 1754 – August 19, 1801) and Abby Levy (August 12, 1760 – July 29, 1821). After joining the

, he legally changed to "Charles Goodwin Ridgely" at the behest of his uncle

Charles Ridgely III Captain Charles Ridgely III (1733–1790) was a colonial Maryland planter and ironmonger. Biography Ridgely was born in Maryland Province in 1733 to Colonel Charles Ridgely II (1702-1772), ("Charles the Merchant") and Rachel Howard. With his fa ...

, who also requested that his other nephew

Charles Carnan Ridgely Charles Carnan Ridgely (December 6, 1760July 17, 1829) was born Charles Ridgely Carnan.Gerson G. Eisenberg, ''Marylanders Who Served the Nation: A Biographical Dictionary of Federal Officials from Maryland'' (Annapolis: Maryland State Archives, ...

change his name from "Charles Ridgely Carnan".

Career

Ridgely was registered as a warranted

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...

in the United States Navy on October 17, 1799.

First Barbary War

Ridgely served as an officer under

during the

from 1804 to 1805. For their actions in the

Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor The Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor was a naval action that occurred during the American naval blockade which took place in Tripoli Harbor on July 14, 1804. The battle was part of the First Barbary War between forces of the United States and th ...

, the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

awarded a

Congressional Gold Medal The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. The congressional pract ...

to Preble and "through him to the officers, petty officers, seamen and marines attached to the squadron under his command". Congress also presented "swords to each of the commissioned officers and Midshipmen who had distinguished themselves in the several attacks", including Ridgely.

Great Lakes and Mediterranean Squadron

He was appointed an acting lieutenant in May 1804 before being commissioned as a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

on February 2, 1807. He was promoted to

master commandant Master commandant was a rank within the early United States Navy. Both the Continental Navy, started in 1775, and the United States Navy created by the United States Congress, in 1796, had just two commissioned ranks, lieutenant and captain. Maste ...

on July 24, 1813 and then commanded the USS ''Jefferson'' on

Lake Ontario Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York. The Canada–United States border sp ...

in 1814. Ridgely was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on February 28, 1815. From 1815 to 1817, he was given command of the USS ''Erie'' and the USS ''Independence'' in the Mediterranean Squadron.

Pacific Squadron and the Peruvian War of Independence

In 1820, Ridgely was placed in command of the

and sailed from

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

to his new post. He took the position hoping to support Chilean and Peruvian patriots of the

Liberating Expedition of Peru The Liberating Expedition of Peru ( es, Expedición Libertadora del Perú) was a naval and land military force created in 1820 by the government of Chile in continuation of the plan of the Argentine General José de San Martín to achieve the in ...

in the

Peruvian War of Independence The Peruvian War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia del Perú, links=no) consisted in a series of military conflicts in Peru beginning with viceroy Abascal military victories in the south frontier in 1809, in La Paz revolution an ...

. During a delay in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

to have the main mast on the USS ''Constellation'' replaced in preparation for rounding

Cape Horn Cape Horn ( es, Cabo de Hornos, ) is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America (which are the Diego Ramírez ...

, Ridgely sought to reduce their midshipmen casualties to duels by enforcing mandatory pledges to refrain from dueling. 3 of his 29 midshipmen refused and were sent back home to resign their positions, but the Department of the Navy disagreed with Ridgely's policy and allowed them to remain in service. Nevertheless, the USS ''Constellation'' did not suffer further losses to duels after the incident. On January 14, 1821, Ridgely arrived aboard the ''Constellation'' in

Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...

, Chile to relieve John Downes, the previous commander of the Pacific Squadron, and the USS ''Macedonian''. They met in March 1821 and then traveled together to

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose ...

, Chile to the American

chargé d'affaires A ''chargé d'affaires'' (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador ...

in Chile and meet Chilean officials. He soon befriended Sir Thomas Hardy commanding the

South America Station The South America Station was a formation of the Royal Navy which existed from 1808 to 1838 when it was split into the Pacific Station and the South East Coast of America Station. Following the invasion of Portugal by Napoleon, the Portuguese cou ...

of the British Royal Navy, but grew discontent with Lord Cochrane of the Chilean Navy and the independence fighters, whom he found to be "base and vulgar". He grew sympathetic towards the Spanish and offered political asylum to the former Viceroy of Peru,

Joaquín de la Pezuela Joaquín or Joaquin is a male given name, the Spanish version of Joachim. Given name * Joaquín (footballer, born 1956), Spanish football midfielder * Joaquín (footballer, born 1981), Spanish football winger * Joaquín (footballer, born 1982 ...

, aboard the ''Constellation'', to the protest of the independence fighters. Ridgely and HMS ''Conway'' independently and unsuccessfully tried to capture the royalist semi-pirate

Vicente Benavides Vicente Benavides Llanos (Quirihue, 1777 – Santiago, Chile, February 23, 1822) was a Chilean soldier who fought in the Chilean War of Independence. He is best known for leading Royalists guerrillas in La Frontera during the last years of th ...

, who operated against local patriot vessels and against American shipping in the Pacific. They were unsuccessful but still managed to limit his effectiveness. Ridgely requested additional support from the US Navy as his lone frigate was significantly outgunned by the British and French squadrons. Charles Stewart set sail with the USS ''Franklin'' and USS ''Dolphin'' in September 1821 and arrived in April 1822 to relieve Ridgely.

West Indies Squadron, Brooklyn Navy Yard, and Brazil Squadron

From 1827 to 1830, Ridgely served as the

flag officer A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark the position from which the officer exercises command. The term is used differently in different countries: *In many countr ...

of the West Indies Squadron and engaged in anti-piracy activities. From June 10, 1833 to November 19, 1839, he was the Commandant of the

At the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Ridgely also served as the first president of the Naval Lyceum. He was then appointed as the flag officer in command of the

from 1840 to 1842.

Death

Ridgely died in Baltimore, Maryland on February 8, 1848.

Personal life

Ridgely married Cornelia Louisiana Livingston in Clermont-on-Hudson, New York on December 1, 1822. They had four children, including Elizabeth Augusta Ridgely who married William H. Hunt.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ridgely, Charles Goodwin 1784 births 1848 deaths United States Navy officers Ridgely family