| Andrew Hull Foote | |
|---|---|
Admiral Foote |
|
| Born | September 12, 1806 New Haven, Connecticut |
| Died | June 26, 1863 (aged 56) New York, New York |
| Place of burial | Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1822–1863 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | USS Perry, USS Portsmouth, Western Gunboat Flotilla |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Thanks of Congress |
Andrew Hull Foote (September 12, 1806 – June 26, 1863) was an American naval officer who was noted for his service in the American Civil War and also for his contributions to several naval reforms in the years prior to the war. When the war came, he was appointed to command of the Western Gunboat Flotilla, predecessor of the Mississippi River Squadron. In that position, he led the gunboats in the Battle of Fort Henry. For his services with the Western Gunboat Flotilla, Foote was among the first naval officers to be promoted to the then-new rank of rear admiral.[1]
Contents |
Foote was born at New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Senator Samuel Augustus Foote (or Foot) and Eudocia Hull.[2] As a child Foote was not known as a good student, but showed a keen interest at one day going to sea.[3] His father compromised and had him entered at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.[4] Six months later in 1822, he left West Point and accepted an appointment as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy.[4]
Between 1822 and 1843, Foote saw service in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Mediterranean, African Coast and at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Foote first began as a midshipman on the USS Grampus. In 1830, Foote was commissioned a lieutenant, and was stationed in the Mediterranean.[3] In 1837, Foote circumnavigated the globe in the USS John Adams. After serving on sea, Foote was put in charge of the Philadelphia Naval Asylum. After serving on land Foote went back to sea, and organized a Temperance Society aboard the USS Cumberland.[3] This group developed into a movement that resulted in ending the policy of supplying grog to U.S. Naval personnel.[5] From 1849 to 1851, Foote commanded the USS Perry, cruising the waters off the African coast. He was active in suppressing the slave trade there.[3] This experience persuaded him to support the cause of Abolition, and in 1854, he published a 390 page book, Africa and the American Flag. In this book, Admiral Foote described the geography of the African continent, the customs of many of the African people, the establishment of American colonies in Africa, the slave-trade and its evils and the need to protect American citizens and commerce abroad. He also became a frequent speaker on the Abolitionist circuit.[3]
Foote was promoted to Commander in 1856, and took command of the USS Portsmouth in the East India Squadron. With this command, Foote was assigned the mission of observing British operations against Canton, China, during the Second Opium War. This eventually resulted in his being attacked from Chinese shore batteries.[3] Foote led a landing party that seized the barrier forts along the Pearl River in reprisal for the attack.[6] This led to a short occupation by the U.S. Navy of Chinese territory.[3]
Foote returned to the Continental United States in 1858, and took command of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, in Brooklyn, New York, a post he held until the outbreak of the hostilities of the Civil War.[3]
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Foote quickly enlisted in the Union Navy. From 1861 to 1862, Foote commanded the Mississippi River Squadron with distinction, organizing and leading the gunboat flotilla in the capture of Forts Henry, Donelson, and Island No. 10. He received the Thanks of Congress for his actions at these three battles. Foote was wounded in action at Fort Donelson. Later in 1862, Foote was promoted to rear admiral.[3] In 1863, on his way to take command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, he suddenly died. His untimely death in New York shocked the nation.[7] He was interred at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven.[8]
Three ships were named USS Foote for him. Civil War Fort Foote on the Potomac,[9] now a National Park, was also named for him.