Charles Henry Davis
| Charles Henry Davis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
January 16, 1807 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | February 18, 1877 (aged 70) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1823–1877 |
| Rank |
 Rear Admiral
|
| Commands held |
St. Mary's Western Gunboat Flotilla South Atlantic Squadron |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Spouse(s) | Harriette Blake Mills |
| Relations | Davis political family |
Charles Henry Davis (January 16, 1807 – February 18, 1877) was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. Working for the Coast Survey, Davis researched tides and currents, and located an uncharted shoal that had caused wrecks off the New York coast. In the Civil War, he commanded the Western Gunboat Flotilla, winning an important engagement in the Battle of Memphis, before capturing enemy supplies on a successful expedition up the Yazoo river.
Davis was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended the Boston Latin School and entered Harvard College in 1821 but left after two years when he was appointed as a Midshipman in the United States Navy on August 12, 1823.
Between 1827 and 1828, he served on board the frigate United States, in the Pacific. In 1829, he was promoted to Passed Midshipman. From 1830 to 1833, he served on the sloop Ontario. In 1834, he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the Vincennes. In 1840 to 1841, he served on board the ship Independence.
In 1841 he received and honorary Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard and in 1868 he received an honorary L.L.D. from the same institution.
In 1843 he became a member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati in succession to his grandfather Colonel Constant Freeman (1757 - 1824).
From 1846 to 1849, he worked in the United States Coast Survey on board the Nantucket, where he discovered a previously unknown shoal that had caused shipwrecks off the coast of New York. During his service to the Survey, he was also responsible for researching tides and currents and acted as an inspector on a number of naval shipyards. From 1849 to 1855 he was the first superintendent of American Nautical Almanac Office and produced the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac.
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