William Radford

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Rear Admiral William Radford (1 March 1808 - 8 January 1890) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.

Radford was born in Fincastle, Virginia and entered the U.S. Navy during 1825. He commanded the landing party from Warren which captured the Mexican warship Malek Adhel at Mazatlán and took part in other Pacific coast operations of the Mexican War.

During the Civil War, he commanded the ill-fated Cumberland but was on board the frigate Roanoke as a member of a Court of enquiry when his ship was attacked by the Confederate casemate ram Virginia. Captain Radford subsequently commanded the armored ship New Ironsides during Union attacks on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and in January 1865.

Promoted rear admiral in 1866, he commanded the European squadron during 1869 and 1870. Rear Admiral Radford died at Washington, D.C.

Two ships in the Navy were named in his honor.

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