James Armstrong (Commodore)

Commodore
James Armstrong
Born January 17, 1794
Shelbyville, Kentucky
Died August 27, 1868 (aged 74)
Salem, Massachusetts
Buried at Harmony Grove Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1809 – 1861
Rank Commodore
Commands held
Battles/wars

Commodore James Armstrong (17 January 1794 – 27 August 1868) was an officer in the United States Navy.

Armstrong joined the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1809 and served on the sloop-of-war Frolic when it was seized by the British in 1814 during the War of 1812. Promoted to commodore and given command of the East India Squadron in 1855, Armstrong served aboard the squadron's flagship, San Jacinto during the Second Opium War. Following the battle of the Pearl Forts, Armstrong's health began to fail and he returned to the United States.

In 1860 Armstrong was given command of the Pensacola Navy Yard. On January 12, 1861, two days after Florida voted to secede from the Union he surrendered the facility to the secessionists.[1]

Armstrong was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky. He died in Salem, Massachusetts at the age of 74 and is buried in the Harmony Grove Cemetery.[2]

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Military offices
Preceded by
Joel Abbot
Commander, East India Squadron
15 October 185529 January 1858
Succeeded by
Josiah Tattnall