George Colvocoresses
|
Captain George Musalas Colvocoresses |
|
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Colvos |
| Born |
October 22, 1816 Chios, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | June 3, 1872 (aged 55) Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1832–1872 |
| Rank |
.png){kind=icon} Captain
|
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
George Musalas "Colvos" Colvocoresses (October 22, 1816 – June 3, 1872) was a United States Navy officer who commanded the Saratoga during the American Civil War. From 1838 up until 1842, he served in the United States Exploring Expedition, better known as the Wilkes Expedition, which explored large regions of the Pacific Ocean. Three separate geographical features, two on the west coast of the United States and another in Antarctica, were named for Colvocoresses.
He was born on the island of Chios in the Greek Archipelago on October 22, 1816. As a member of a prominent Greek family, he was kidnapped along with his mother and two sisters and ransomed from the Turks after the massacre of the Greek population of the island in 1822, during the Greek War of Independence. His family's fortunes were devastated by the massacre. Most close relatives, including six brothers, were killed. He was enslaved at 6 years of age, but his father managed to buy back his freedom.
By 1824, Colvocoresses was sent to Baltimore, Maryland in the United States by his father. He became the adopted son of Captain Alden Partridge, the founder of the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy (later Norwich University) in Norwich, Vermont. Colvocoresses entered the Navy after graduating from the Academy in 1831. Several generations of his family, including his son, great-grandson, and great-great-granddaughter, have also graduated from Norwich and followed military careers.
In 1832, he was appointed a midshipman, and in 1836-1837 attached to the frigate United States on the Mediterranean Squadron. From 1838 up until 1842, he served in the United States Exploring Expedition, better known as the Wilkes Expedition of the Pacific Ocean. Colvocoresses later authored a work on the Wilkes Expedition, entitled Four Years in a Government Exploring Expedition (New York, 1852). He was promoted to lieutenant on December 7, 1843 and to commander on July 2, 1861.
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