George Musalas "Colvos" Colvocoresses (October 22, 1816 – June 3, 1872) was a Greek-American

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...

officer who commanded the during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. From 1838 up until 1842, he took part in the

United States Exploring Expedition The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby ...

, which explored large regions of the Pacific Ocean.

Biography

Early life

He was born on the island of

Chios Chios (; el, Χίος, Chíos , traditionally known as Scio in English) is the fifth largest Greek island, situated in the northern Aegean Sea. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. Chios is notable for its exports of mastic ...

in the Greek Archipelago on October 22, 1816. As a member of a prominent Greek family, he was kidnapped along with his mother and two sisters and ransomed from the Turks after

the massacre ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

of the Greek population of the island in 1822, during the

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...

. His family's fortunes were devastated by the massacre. Most close relatives, including six brothers, were killed. He was enslaved at 6 years of age, but his father managed to buy back his freedom. By 1824, Colvocoresses was sent to

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 ...

in the United States by his father. He became the adopted son of Captain

Alden Partridge Alden Partridge, (February 12, 1785 - January 17, 1854) was an American author, legislator, officer, surveyor, an early superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and a controversial pioneer in U.S. military educ ...

, the founder of the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy (later

Norwich University Norwich University – The Military College of Vermont is a private senior military college in Northfield, Vermont. It is the oldest private and senior military college in the United States and offers bachelor's and master's degrees on-campus ...

) in

Norwich, Vermont Norwich is a town in Windsor County, in the U.S. state of Vermont. The population was 3,612 at the 2020 census. Home to some of the state of Vermont's wealthiest residents, the municipality is a commuter town for nearby Hanover, New Hampshir ...

. Colvocoresses entered the Navy after graduating from the Academy in 1831. Several generations of his family have also graduated from Norwich and followed military careers.

Naval career

In 1832, he was appointed a midshipman, and in 1836–1837 attached to the frigate on the Mediterranean Squadron. From 1838 up until 1842, he served in the United States Exploring Expedition, better known as the

Wilkes Expedition The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby ...

of the Pacific Ocean. Colvocoresses authored a work on the Wilkes Expedition in 1852, entitled ''Four Years in a Government Exploring Expedition''. He was promoted to lieutenant on December 7, 1843, and to commander on July 2, 1861. On January 29, 1862, the vessel , under his command, captured the

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

schooner ''Stephen Hart'' off the south coast of Florida, carrying assorted cargo. In early August 1864 with 115 men in 7 boats from his sloop , he conducted an expedition to gather intelligence and capture enemy prisoners. Two week later, at South Newport, Georgia, Colvocoresses led 130 men in boats, capturing a lieutenant and 38 privates of the Third

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

Cavalry, six overseers of saltworks he had destroyed, and 71 slaves. He was promoted to captain and placed on the retired list on April 4, 1867. Colvocoresses was robbed and murdered in

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...

, on June 3, 1872, while on his way to New York. The case was never solved.

Legacy

Colvocoresses was married twice. His first wife was Eliza F. Halsey. They married in May 1846. Eliza was the daughter of Commander Thomas W. Freelon of the United States Navy. The couple had four children, including Frank E. and George P. After her death in the 1860s he remarried; his second wife was Adeline Maria Swasey. * His son,

George Partridge Colvocoresses George Partridge Colvocoresses (April 3, 1847 – September 10, 1932) was a United States Navy rear admiral. He was the son of Captain George M. Colvocoresses, the adopted son of Captain Alden Partridge, founder of Norwich University in Vermon ...

—named for his father's benefactor—also led a distinguished military career, rising to the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy. He served under then-Commodore

George Dewey George Dewey (December 26, 1837January 16, 1917) was Admiral of the Navy, the only person in United States history to have attained that rank. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War, with ...

in the

Asiatic Fleet The United States Asiatic Fleet was a fleet of the United States Navy during much of the first half of the 20th century. Before World War II, the fleet patrolled the Philippine Islands. Much of the fleet was destroyed by the Japanese by Februar ...

, and distinguished himself in service during the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

. His name appears on the Centennial Staircase at Norwich. *His daughter Franka Eliza Colvocoresses married nonfiction writer and editor John Denison Champlin Jr. * His daughter Ellena Seaman Colvocoresses's grandson Charles Whitney Haddock was U.S. Army Corporal, serving during World War II * His great-grandson,

Alden Partridge Colvocoresses Alden Partridge Colvocoresses (September 23, 1918 – March 27, 2007) helped to develop the Space-oblique Mercator projection with John P. Snyder and John Junkins, and developed the first satellite map of the United States in 1974. Biograph ...

, received the

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...

as well as two

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

s. His career spanned

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

, and the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

. After leaving the army, Alden was a pioneer in satellite mapping techniques, including the Space Oblique Mercator projection that maps images from Landsat satellites, which he used to develop the first satellite map of the United States.

Namesake

Colvos Passage The Colvos Passage is a tidal strait within Puget Sound in the American state of Washington running west of Vashon Island between the island and the Kitsap Peninsula. It lies just north of the Dalco Passage. Colvos Passage has a permanent pre ...

, a

tidal strait A tidal strait is technically not a river but a strait connecting two oceans or seas. Tidal straits are narrow seaways through which tidal currents flow. Tidal currents are usually unidirectional but sometimes are bidirectional. They are frequent ...

Puget Sound Puget Sound ( ) is a sound of the Pacific Northwest, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, and part of the Salish Sea. It is located along the northwestern coast of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected ma ...

, was named in honor of Colvocoresses

Other Greek American Slaves

Garafilia Mohalbi Garafilia Mohalbi(y) (; 1817 – March 17, 1830) was a Greek slave that was rescued by an American merchant and sent to live with his family in Boston, Massachusetts. Born to a prominent family on the island of Psara, her parents were killed in 1 ...

Christophorus Castanis Christophorus Plato Castanis ( el, Χριστόφορος Πλάτων Καστανής; 1814–1866; also known as Christophoros Castanis or Castanes and Christoforos Kastanis or Kastanes) was an Ottoman Greek academic, author and classicist. C ...

Joseph Stephanini Joseph Stephanini ( el, Ιωσήφ Στεφανίνις; 1803–?) was an Ottoman Greek author and runaway slave. He migrated to the United States. He wrote ''The Personal Narrative of the Sufferings of J. Stephanini'' pleading to the American pe ...

* Halet Logotheti

Notes

References

* Chryssis, George C. ''A Concise History of the Hellenic Presence in America from 1528 to Present''. Hellenic News of America, Inc. Retrieved on June 2, 200

* Dwyer, John B. ''Observations from the Edge of the World''. (Annapolis, June 2008). pp. 52–57.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Colvocoresses, George M. 1816 births 1872 deaths 1872 murders in the United States 19th-century Greek Americans American people of Greek descent People from Chios Emigrants from the Ottoman Empire to the United States Union Navy officers United States Navy officers Norwich University alumni People of Vermont in the American Civil War People murdered in Connecticut Unsolved murders in the United States Greek slaves from the Ottoman Empire People from Norwich, Vermont People of the United States Exploring Expedition