Samuel Greene
| Samuel Dana Greene, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 11, 1839 Cumberland, Maryland |
| Died | December 11, 1884 (aged 45) Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1855–1884 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant Commander
|
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Samuel Dana Greene, Sr. (February 11, 1839 – December 11, 1884) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War, mostly noted for his service aboard the USS Monitor during the Battle of Hampton Roads.
Greene was born in Cumberland, Maryland, the son of future U.S. Army General George S. Greene. He entered the United States Naval Academy on September 21, 1855, and graduated on June 9, 1859, with the rank of midshipman. He was stationed on the steam sloop Hartford, which transported John Elliott Ward, the American ambassador to various cities in China to settle American claims.
When the Civil War broke out, the Hartford was ordered to return home. Greene, having been promoted to lieutenant on August 31, 1861, arrived in Philadelphia on December 2, 1861. After a short leave, he volunteered for duty on the Monitor. Greene was appointed executive officer, serving under Commander Lieutenant John L. Worden during its historic four-hour battle at Hampton Roads, Virginia, with the Confederate ironclad warship CSS Virginia on March 9, 1862. During the battle he assumed full command of Monitor when Worden was temporarily blinded by shell fragments from an explosion from one of Virginia's broadsides. After the subsequent retreat and assessment of all damage Greene ordered the return to battle and continued engaging the Virginia to a standoff. Greene continued to command the Monitor until Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr. took command on March 10, 1862.
From April to May 1862 Greene continued to serve as executive officer on Monitor during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff on the James River, Virginia, and later provided naval support for General McClellan's forces on land along that river. Greene was aboard the ship when it foundered in a gale 20 miles off Cape Hatteras on December 31 – January 1, 1863, which Greene survived after being pulled into a lifeboat by the ship's surgeon, Dr. Grenville M. Weeks.
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