James Henry Gillis (14 May 1831 – 6 December 1910) was a rear admiral 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 ...

. His active-duty career extended from the 1850s through the 1890s, including service in 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 ...

Biography

Born in

Ridgway, Pennsylvania Ridgway is a borough in and the county seat of Elk County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 4,078. History Ridgway was founded by Philadelphian shipping merchant Jacob Ridgway and James Gillis. Jacob Ridgway earned sub ...

, Gillis was the son of U.S. Congressman James L. Gillis and his second wife Cecelia Ann Berray. He graduated from the

Naval Academy A naval academy provides education for prospective naval officers. See also * Military academy A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally pro ...

in 1854. Three years later, while serving in store ship , Gillis rescued the crew of a foundered Argentine ship during a violent storm. During the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

he served with Union Squadrons blockading the Confederacy, and subsequently commanded , , the flagship of the

European Squadron The European Squadron, also known as the European Station, was a part of the United States Navy in the late 19th century and the early 1900s. The squadron was originally named the Mediterranean Squadron and renamed following the American Civil Wa ...

, , , and , the flagship of the

Pacific Squadron The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval s ...

. Gillis served on the frigate at the beginning of the Civil War, he participated in the defeat of the rebel

privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...

''Petrel'' on July 28, 1861 off

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 = ...

. After the Civil War, he became a member of the District of Columbia Commandery of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

. He was promoted to the rank of captain in September 1876 and to commodore in January 1887. He commanded the South Atlantic Squadron from 1888 to 1890. During this assignment he held the rank of acting rear admiral. Commodore Gillis retired from the Navy on 14 May 1893, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 62. He was known as the "Sailor with a charmed life" because he never lost a man at sea. Rear Admiral Gillis died at

Melbourne Beach, Florida Melbourne Beach is a town in Brevard County, Florida. The population was 3,101 at the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne– Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The Ais Indians resided in the area in ...

at the age of 79. He was interred at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

, where his tombstone bears his final active-duty rank of commodore.

Namesake

The destroyer was named for him and Commodore

John P. Gillis John Pritchett Gillis (6 September 1803 – 25 February 1873) was a Commodore (United States), commodore in the United States Navy. He served in the Navy from 1825 until 1866 and saw military action in the Mexican-American War and the U.S. Civ ...

Dates of rank

*Midshipman, 12 October, 1848. *Passed Midshipman, 15 June, 1854. *Master, 16 September, 1855. *Lieutenant, 17 September, 1855. *Lieutenant Commander, 16 July, 1862. *Commander, 25 July, 1866. *Captain, 30 September, 1876. *Commodore, 29 January, 1887. *Retired List, 14 May, 1893.

References

* *

External links

James H. and I. V. Gillis Naval Papers, 1866-1898 MS 4
held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy {{DEFAULTSORT:Gillis, James Henry 1831 births 1910 deaths People from Ridgway, Pennsylvania United States Naval Academy alumni People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Union Navy officers United States Navy rear admirals (upper half) People from Melbourne Beach, Florida Burials at Arlington National Cemetery