David Dixon Porter

• 1. A Boy On The Frigate

  ›

  On the 2nd of February 1829, a sixteen-year-old boy named David Dixon Porter received his official appointment as midshipman in the United States Navy. This date marked the beginning of a sixty-two-year career that would span from childhood to old age. He entered service through the influence of his grandfather, US Congressman William Anderson. His father, Commodore David Porter, had already established a formidable reputation within naval circles. The younger Porter was not like other boys who joined at a very young age. He possessed a maturity and experience that exceeded many naval lieutenants of the time. This background made him cocky and prone to challenging superiors. An incident involving Commodore James Biddle saved his warrant from being revoked. Biddle acted favorably because Porter's father was considered a hero. Without this intervention, his naval career might have ended before it truly began.

  1

• 2. The Mortar Boats And Vicksburg

  ›

  In late 1861, the Navy Department began developing plans to open the Mississippi River. Porter claimed credit for suggesting the target and proposing tactics to be employed. Other writers state that Assistant Navy Secretary Gustavus V. Fox was the principal author. Porter organized a flotilla of some twenty mortar boats to participate in reducing forts defending New Orleans. The bombardment of Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip began on the 18th of April 1862. Porter opined that two days of concentrated fire would suffice. After five days, the forts seemed as strong as ever. Farragut decided to bypass the forts on the night of April 24. The fleet successfully ran past the forts while the mortars bombarded them to distract enemy gunners. Later, at Vicksburg, Porter brought his mortar flotilla up to suppress Rebel artillery. Only one vessel was lost during the passage of batteries on the 16th of April 1863. Grant later called off an assault after the upper fort remained standing. The city fell on the 4th of July 1863, marking a turning point in the war.

  2

• 3. Reforming Annapolis Standards

  ›

  Secretary Welles appointed Porter Superintendent of the Naval Academy in 1865. The academy had been neglected and underfunded by Congress. It possessed a reputation for producing cadets who were poorly educated and prone to misbehavior. Porter resolved to change that outcome immediately. He determined to make the academy the rival of the Military Academy at West Point. The curriculum was revised to reflect the reality of naval life. Organized sports were encouraged and discipline was strictly enforced. Social graces were taught alongside technical skills. An honor system was installed to send honorable men into the Navy. To ensure reforms would remain in place, he brought like-minded young officers to the faculty. These men had distinguished themselves in the recent war. His tenure established professional standards that endured long after his departure from the post.

• 4. Political Struggles And Power

  ›

  When Ulysses S. Grant became president in 1869, he appointed Adolph E. Borie as Secretary of the Navy. Borie had no knowledge of the navy and little desire to learn. He leaned on Porter for advice regarding routine matters. In a short time, Borie came to defer to him completely. Porter used this influence to push through policies shaping the navy as he wanted. This process created a new set of enemies among those harmed or resentful of his blunt methods. After three months, Borie resigned under strong criticism for failing to control his subordinate. George Robeson replaced Borie and promptly curtailed Porter's powers. Porter faced powerful opposition from Congress and political generals who had contended with him during the war. Robeson eased him into semi-retirement in 1875 despite Porter reaching mandatory retirement age of sixty-two in June of that year.

• 5. The Second Admiral Rank

  ›

  In 1866, the rank of admiral was officially created in the United States Navy. Naval hero David G. Farragut, Porter's adoptive brother, was selected as the nation's first admiral. Porter became vice admiral at the same time. Farragut died in 1870, creating an expectation that Porter would be promoted to fill the vacancy. Eventually, he did become the second admiral after much controversy provoked by many enemies. Among them were several very powerful politicians including some political generals from the war. He reached the mandatory retirement age of sixty-two in June 1875 but remained on active duty. Despite the prestige of this high rank, Porter's eclipse in influence continued for the last twenty years of his life. He held little to do with actual operations of the Navy during this period.

• 6. Writing And Final Years

  ›

  After twenty years of semi-retirement, Porter's health began to fail. In the summer of 1890, he suffered a heart attack and survived but his condition clearly declined. He turned to writing naval histories and producing books like Incidents and Anecdotes of the Civil War published in 1885. He also authored The Adventures of Harry Marline and Arthur Merton, a Romance. On the 13th of February 1891, he died at the age of seventy-seven. His death came just one day before that of his friend William T. Sherman. He had served on active duty in the United States Navy for sixty-two years. This duration represented one of the longest careers in its history. Admiral Porter is interred at Arlington National Cemetery where his legacy remains visible today.

  3