Naval officer; born in
Baltimore, Md., Sept. 17, 1800: entered the navy in 1815; became lieutenant in 1825, and master-commander in 1841.
He was the first superintendent of the Naval Academy at
Annapolis.
Sympathizing with the
Confederate movement, and believing his State would secede, he sent in his resignation.
Finding that
Maryland did not secede, he petitioned for restoration, but was refused, when he entered the
Confederate service, and superintended( the fitting-out of the old
Merrimac (rechristened the
Virginia) at
Norfolk.
In her he fought the
Monitor and was severely wounded.
He afterwards blew up his vessel to save her from capture.
In command of the ironclad
Tennessee, in
Mobile Bay, he was defeated and made prisoner.
He died in
Talbot county.
Md., May 11, 1874.
See
monitor and Merrimac.
Buchanan, James
