Selim E. Woodworth
| Selim E. Woodworth | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the California Senate from the Monterey district |
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In office 1849–1851 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 27, 1815 New York, New York |
| Died | January 29, 1871 (aged 55) San Francisco, California |
| Relations | Woodworth political family |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1838–1849 1861–1866 |
| Rank |
 Commander
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| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
Selim E. Woodworth (November 27, 1815 – January 29, 1871) was a commander in the United States Navy, prominent San Francisco businessman, and member of the Woodworth political family.
Woodworth was born in New York City, the second son of poet and dramatist Samuel Woodworth. He was a descendant of colonial settler Walter Woodworth. At age twelve he and his friend Tom Jacobs ran away to cross the continent, but relatives living north of the city apprehended them in the Catskills. In 1834, Woodworth and Jacobs sailed as captain's clerks on the ship Margaret Oakley, captained by Benjamin Morrell. Morrell explored islands in the Bismark Sea and established trading relations with previously uncontacted native inhabitants. Woolworth and Jacobs found an uninhabited atoll suitable for a new colony, a project they considered years later without ever making much progress. During Margaret Oakley's return, she wrecked while at anchor near a pirate trading colony in Madagascar, but there is suspicion that Morrell staged the wreck so he could sell the ship's cargo for personal gain. Woodworth eventually reached Mauritius and returned to New York after an absence of four years. Morrell, was now seen as piratical and on the run from authorities.
Although Woodworth was associated with the disastrous and piratical Margaret Oakley expedition, he was not held culpable and his father worked to have him enlisted into the Navy. Appointed a midshipman on June 16, 1838, Woodworth was ordered to join the Wilkes Exploring Expedition because of the Polynesian language ability he had acquired in the Pacific. Because his orders were misdirected, he arrived to find the expedition had already sailed. He was instead sent to the Mediterranean Sea for duty in the ship of the line Ohio. On August 3, he was detached for a three-month leave; he received an additional leave of three months to visit Milan, Italy, and on December 24 was ordered to join the Falmouth, then fitting out at New York.
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