John Randolph Tucker (naval officer)
| John Randolph Tucker | |
|---|---|
Captain John Randolph Tucker, CSN
|
|
| Born |
January 31, 1812 Alexandria, Virginia |
| Died | June 12, 1883 (aged 71) |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America Virginia Confederate States of America Peru
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy Virginia Navy Confederate States Navy Peruvian Navy
|
| Years of service | 1826-1861 (USN) 1861 (Virginia Navy) 1861-1865 (CSN) 1866-1871 (Peruvian Navy) |
| Rank |
 Commander (USN) Captain (CSN)Rear Admiral (Peruvian Navy) |
| Battles/wars | |
John Randolph Tucker (January 31, 1812 - June 12, 1883), an American naval officer who served in the navies of three nations. He was a commander in the United States Navy, captain in the Confederate States Navy, and rear admiral in the Peruvian Navy. As president of the Peruvian Hydrographic Commission of the Amazon, he contributed to the exploration and mapping of the upper Amazon Basin.
He was born in Alexandria, Virginia to merchant captain John Tucker, originally from Bermuda, and Susan Douglas, daughter of Dr. Charles Douglas, an English physician.
Tucker became a United States Navy Midshipman on June 1, 1826 at age fourteen, and had service afloat in the Mediterranean and Brazil Squadrons prior to his promotion to Lieutenant on December 20, 1837. During the Mexican-American War, he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Gulf of Mexico, commanding USS Stromboli until illness forced him to return north. From 1849 until 1855, he was assigned to the Home Squadron (1849-1852) and Mediterranean Squadron (1852-1855) flagships. Tucker received his commission as Commander on September 14, 1855 when he became commanding officer of USS Pennsylvania. He later served as Officer at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Commander Tucker resigned from the U.S. Navy when Virginia seceded from the Union on April 18, 1861, becoming a Commander in the Virginia Navy and, in June, the Confederate States Navy. In 1861-62, he was the commanding officer of CSS Patrick Henry, armed with 10 guns and manned by 150 officers and sailors, participating with her in several combat actions including supporting the ironclad CSS Virginia in the Battle of Hampton Roads. In April 1862 he took command of the James River Squadron, which included the Patrick Henry and Virginia. During the Federal Navy's attack on the Drewry's Bluff fortifications in May 1862, he commanded one of the defending batteries in the Battle of Drewry's Bluff.
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