Thomas Tingey Craven (1808–1887) was a 19th century United States Navy officer who rose to prominence during the Civil War. He was son of Tunis Craven, a navy purser, and Hannah (Tingey) Craven, the daughter of Commodore Thomas Tingey, a longtime commandant of the Washington Navy Yard. His brother Tunis Craven also joined the navy, and perished with the USS Tecumseh at the Battle of Mobile Bay. Another brother, Alfred Wingate, was a noted civil engineer. He, like his brothers, was a graduate of the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy, the forerunner of Norwich University, entering in 1822 and graduating in December 1823.
T.T. Craven served as commandant of the United States Naval Academy in 1858-1860.[1] At the outbreak of the Civil War he commanded the Potomac flotilla and then took command of the USS Brooklyn.
He married Virginia Wingate, and later Emily Henderson. He had eight children, and four of his sons attended the naval academy or were connected with the U.S. Navy: Charles Henderson (1843–1898), Henry Smith (1845–1889), Alfred (1846-?) and Macdonough (1858-?) His grandson (Henry's son) Thomas Tingey Craven served in the U.S. Navy in the early 20th century and played a prominent role in the development of naval aviation. His daughter Ida married Frank W. Hackett, who would go on to become Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[2]