William Harwar Parker

William Harwar Parker
Captain William Harwar Parker, during the American Civil War, in the Confederate States Navy
Born	(1826-10-08)October 8, 1826 New York City, New York
Died	December 30, 1896(1896-12-30) (aged 70) Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States  Confederate States
Service/branch	United States Navy  Confederate States Navy
Years of service	1841 - 1861 (USN) 1861 - 1865 (CSN)
Rank	Lieutenant Lieutenant
Battles/wars	Mexican-American War Battle of Palo Alto Blockade of Veracruz Siege of Veracruz Second Battle of Tuxpan Second Battle of Tabasco African Slave Trade Patrol American Civil War Battle of Roanoke Island Battle of Hampton Roads Battle of Drewry's Bluff Battle of Trent's Reach
Awards	Civil War Campaign Medal
Relations	Foxhall A. Parker, Sr. (father) Foxhall A. Parker, Jr. (brother)

Mexican-American War

African Slave Trade Patrol
American Civil War

William Harwar Parker (October 8, 1826 – December 30, 1896) was an officer in the United States Navy and later in the Confederate States Navy. His auto-biography, entitled Recollections of a Naval Officer 1841-1865, provides a unique insight into the United States Navy of the mid-19th century during an era when the Age of Sail was coming to an end and the advent of steam power and ironclads was beginning.

He was born in New York City, the son of Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, Sr. and Sarah Jay Bogardus (b. 1794), daughter of Robert Bogardus (1771–1841). Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, Jr., was his brother.

William H. Parker became a United States Navy midshipman at the early age of 15, recalling in his biography that he had held his father's hand while being escorted to his first ship.

Parker's appointment date as a Midshipman was on October 19, 1841, just after his 15th birthday. His first assignment was to the receiving ship USS North Carolina, and he reported on board October 27 when the ship was moored at New York City.

In April 1842, Parker was issued his first sea orders and reported to the USS Columbus. The Columbus set sail on August 29, 1842 and proceeded to Gibraltar, arriving in the fall and spending the winter in that port. In the spring of 1842, the Columbus sailed to the port of Mahón with a port call to Toulon. The ship then returned to Gibraltar and, in June 1843, set sail for Madeira and then on to Gata, Cape Verde. At the start of July 1843, the Columbus made for Rio de Janeiro.