Charles Wilkes
| Charles Wilkes | |
|---|---|
Charles Wilkes
|
|
| Born |
April 3, 1798 New York City, New York |
| Died | February 8, 1877 (aged 78) Washington, D. C. |
| Known for |
United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 Trent Affair |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1818–1866 |
| Rank |
 Rear Admiral
|
| Commands held |
USS San Jacinto USS Wachusett USS Tioga USS Sonoma |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Signature | |
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Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War (1861–1865), where he attacked a Royal Mail Ship, almost leading to war between the US and the UK. His behavior led to two convictions by court-martial, one stemming from the massacre of almost 80 Fijians on Malolo in 1840.
Wilkes was born in New York City, on April 3, 1798, as the great nephew of the former Lord Mayor of London John Wilkes. His mother was Mary Seton, who died in 1802 when Charles was just three years old. As a result, Charles was raised by his aunt, Elizabeth Ann Seton, who would later convert to Roman Catholicism and become the first American-born woman canonized a saint by the Catholic Church. When Elizabeth was left widowed with five children, Charles was sent to a boarding school, and later attended Columbia College, which is the present-day Columbia University. He entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1818, and became a lieutenant in 1826.
In 1833, for his survey of Narragansett Bay, he was placed in charge of the Navy's Department of Charts and Instruments, out of which developed the Naval Observatory and Hydrographic Office. Wilkes' interdisciplinary expedition (1838–1842) set a physical oceanography benchmark for the office's first superintendent Matthew Fontaine Maury.
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