John Irwin (admiral)

John Irwin
Rear Admiral John Irwin
Born	(1832-04-15)15 April 1832 Pittsburg (now Pittsburgh) or Lancaster, Pennsylvania (sources vary)
Died	28 July 1901(1901-07-28) (aged 69) Washington, D.C.
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1847–1894
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands held	USS New Berne USS Gettysburg USS Yantic USS Sabine USS Pensacola Mare Island Navy Yard Asiatic Squadron
Battles/wars	African Slave Trade Patrol American Civil War Union blockade Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries Battle of Port Royal Battle of Port Royal Ferry Black Week (Hawaii)
Relations	William W. Irwin (father) Agnes Irwin (half-sister) Robert Walker Irwin (half-brother)

Rear Admiral John Irwin (15 April 1832 – 28 July 1901) was an officer in the United States Navy. He participated in the African Slave Trade Patrol, fought in the American Civil War, and served as Commander of the Asiatic and Pacific Squadrons.

Irwin was born in Pittsburg (now Pittsburgh) or Lancaster (sources vary), Pennsylvania, on 15 April 1832. He was the son of United States Congressman William W. Irwin (1803-1856) and Frances Everallyn Rose Irwin (1809-1836). He was also the great-great step-grandson of Benjamin Franklin through his step-mother, Sophia Arabella Bache.

Irwin was appointed as a midshipman on 9 September 1847 and immediately went to sea, being attached to the frigate USS Cumberland in the Home Squadron from 1847 to 1848, to the frigate USS St. Lawrence in the Mediterranean Squadron from 1849 to 1850, and to the frigate USS John Adams on the African Slave Trade Patrol off the west coast of Africa from 1851 to 1853. He was promoted to passed midshipman on 10 June 1853.