James Hooker Strong (26 April 1814 – 28 November 1882) was a

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

of the United States Navy, who served during the American Civil War.

Biography

Strong, born in Canandaigua, New York, was appointed a

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 Navy while he was a student in the Polytechnic College at Chittenango, New York, on 2 February 1829. He made his first cruise on the

Brazil Station 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 ...

in from 1833 to 1835. After various cruises, he commanded the store ship in 1859. On the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, Strong was promoted to

commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

, and commanded and in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1861 and 1862, and in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron from 1863 to 1865. At the Battle of Mobile Bay, he was the first to ram the Confederate

ironclad An ironclad is a steam engine, steam-propelled warship protected by Wrought iron, iron or steel iron armor, armor plates, constructed from 1859 to the early 1890s. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships ...

and received high commendation for his initiative and valor, and a promotion 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 ...

. Strong served at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1866 and 1867, and later commanded in the Mediterranean Squadron in 1869 and 1870. He was promoted to

in 1873 and served as Commander-in-Chief of the South Atlantic Squadron from 1873 to 1875. Strong retired on 25 April 1876. He died in Columbia, South Carolina, on 28 November 1882.

Dates of rank

*Midshipman, 2 February 1829. *Passed Midshipman, 4 June 1836. *Lieutenant, 8 September 1841. *Commander, 24 April 1861. *Captain, 5 August 1865. *Commodore, 2 March 1870. *Rear Admiral, 25 September 1873. *Retired List, 25 April 1876.

Namesakes

Two destroyers have been named in his honor.

References

External links

USS ''Strong'' (DD-467) site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strong, James Hooker 1814 births 1882 deaths United States Navy admirals People from Canandaigua, New York