William Nicholson Jeffers | |
---|---|
William Jeffers
|
|
Born |
Swedesboro, New Jersey |
October 6, 1824
Died | July 23, 1883 Washington, D.C. |
(aged 58)
Place of burial | United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland |
Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
Service/branch |
United States Navy Union Army |
Years of service | September 23, 1840-probably 1881 |
Rank | Commodore |
Commands held |
USS Philadelphia (1861) USS Roanoke (1855) USS Underwriter (1852) USS Monitor (temporary) USS Swatara (1872) Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance |
Battles/wars |
Mexican-American War American Civil War |
Commodore William Nicholson Jeffers (6 October 1824 – 23 July 1883) was a U.S. Navy officer of the 19th century. He took part in combat operations during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War, and during the 1870s and early 1880s served as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance.
Jeffers was born in Swedesboro, New Jersey, and was appointed midshipman 23 September 1840. His early service was in frigates Congress and United States, and during the Mexican-American War he took part in the attack on Alvarado, the capture of Tobasco, and the bombardment of Vera Cruz.
In the 1850s he was engaged in numerous expeditions to Central America, and was responsible for a preliminary survey of the isthmus of Honduras.
During the early months of the Civil War, Jeffers commanded Philadelphia in the Potomac River and served in frigate Roanoke off Charleston and Hatteras Inlet. In December 1861 he took command of Underwriter and soon afterward took part in the capture of Roanoke Island and the destruction of the Confederate squadron at Elizabeth City. After the wounding of Captain John Lorimer Worden of USS Monitor during her historic engagement with CSS Virginia on 9 March 1862, Jeffers assumed command, taking part mainly in shore bombardment in the James River.