Silas Stringham
| Silas Horton Stringham | |
|---|---|
Admiral Silas H. Stringham
|
|
| Born |
November 7, 1798 Middletown, New York |
| Died | February 7, 1876 (aged 77) Brooklyn, New York |
| Place of burial | Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1809–1861 |
| Rank |
 Rear Admiral
|
| Commands held |
USS John Adams USS Independence USS Ohio Brazil Squadron Mediterranean Squadron Atlantic Blockading Squadron |
| Battles/wars |
War of 1812 Second Barbary War Mexican–American War American Civil War |
Rear Admiral Silas Horton Stringham (7 November 1798 – 7 February 1876) was an officer of the United States Navy who saw active service during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, and the Mexican–American War, and who commanded the Atlantic Blockading Squadron at the beginning of the American Civil War.
Born in Middletown, New York, Stringham entered the Navy on 15 November 1809, aged only 11 years old, receiving promotion to the rank of midshipman on 19 June 1810 while serving under Captain John Rodgers in the frigate President. He was present during the Little Belt Affair in May 1811, and during the engagement with HMS Belvidera on 23 June 1812.
Having received his commission as a lieutenant on 9 December 1814, he was assigned to the brig Spark, Captain Thomas Gamble, which was part of Stephen Decatur's squadron in the Barbary Wars, and helped to take an Algerine frigate. In early 1816, while Spark was at Gibraltar, a French brig, attempting to enter the bay in a heavy gale, capsized. Stringham and six seamen in a small boat, pulled over to the brig, and rescued five of the crew. He attempted to return to Spark, but could make no headway, so turned and pulled for the Algerian shore, but was wrecked in the heavy surf, with one of his crew and two of the Frenchmen drowned.
In 1819 Stringham was serving aboard the Cyane, conveying black settlers to Liberia. While Cyane was off the African coast. Captain Edward Trenchard gave Stringham command of a boat in he capturing four slaver. Trenchard then appointed Stingham prize-master and sent him home with them. In 1821 Stringham was appointed First Lieutenant of the brig Hornet in the West Indies Squadron, and from 1825 to 1829 served at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In late 1829 he was appointed First Lieutenant of the Peacock to take part in the search his former ship Hornet, believed lost. During the search he was transferred to the sloop Falmouth, and sent to Cartagena, finally returning to New York in 1830.
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