Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-10-17
Death Of Commodore Stockton.

deceased was born at Princeton, New
J Jersey, in 1856. He was a grandson
of Hon. Richard Stockton, one of the
slgnrrs oi 1lie l,erlara1ion Vfsinslgpsn-
dence. lie entered the United States
Navy, while at college, in his fifteenth
year, as a midshipman, and was pro
NOTED to be aid to Commodore Rod
gers, on board the frigate President,
receiving honorable notice for gallant
ry in several battles,and in December,
1914, he was promoted TO a junior
leutenancy, for his brave conduct in
the defence of Baltimore.
In 1915 he was sent to the Meditcr
ranean, in the Guerrero, in the war
against Algiers, but was soon trans
ferred to the Spitfre, as first lieuten
ant, in which he distinguished HIMSELF
by boarding, with boats crew, an
Algcrine war vessel In February,
1916. he was ordered to the Washing
ton, the flagship of Com. Chauncey,
cruising in the Mediterranean, and
subsequently was transferred to the
Erie
In 1921 he was sent back to the
United States, in command OF the
Erie, and was then ordered to the
coast Of Africa, with permission to aid
the African Colonization Society in
procuring a new site for its settle
ment Accompanied by DR. Ayres,
agent of the society, he succeeded, az
ter some difficulty, in obtaining from
the native chiefs, a treaty ceding a
tract of land around Cape Measurable
which is the original territory Of the
present republic of Liberia.
i During his cruise on the African
9 coast, Lieut.. Stockton captured con
! siderable number Of slavers, and q
s Portuguese privateer, the Mariann'
Z Flora, of twenty-five guns, which hat
. attacked him. This vessel he sent t'
Is the United States, and series o
trials followed in the United States
courts as to he propriety Of her cap
= ture. Lieut. Stockton was fnall,
justified in the Supreme Court, bu
the vessel was given up to Portuga
= as an act of comfy. lie also cap
: tured French SLAYER, which led to
Is long litigation, but was again justifie'
rs by the Supreme Court. On his re
20 turn from the African coast he wa
NJ ordered to the West Indies, to brea
ls up the nests Of pirates preyin
3 upon our commerce there, in whic
20 So enterprise be Was completely success
90 full.
From 1926 to 1888 he was absent o
70 leave from service, and remained prir
cpally at his homo in Princeton. d.
ring this period he took an active PAL
= in politics in favor of Andrew Jacl
son, working in the three States
Pennsylvania, New York and Ne
D. Jersey, with wonderful success for Il
IL old hero of New Orleans, who WI
l. bis firm friend lie also interest'
In n himself extensively in the internal ii
% provement Of New Jersey
" In 1888 he was again sent to u
. Mediterranean as fag-ofliccr of t
% Ohio, Commodore Hulls fagship,al
Z" in 1889 was promoted to post-ca
!, taincv. and recalled. After this
- took great interest in the employme
of steam in the navy, and Che famo
;, sIoop- Princeton was builtund
, his direction. 1t was on the occasi
" of displaying her that the party W
!, given by him on the 2Sth of Fcbruai
F. 1874. at which President Tyler, I
4" Cabinet and many members of &c
gress were present, and which "
destined to become SO memorial
i" Several of the company were on dc
to witness the firing Of the new gu
ads. which had been cast expressly Tor
Princeton, when ono OF them,
SO. "Peace.malzer," exploded, killed !
III Upshcr, the Secretary of State,
the Gilmcr, the Secretary Of the Ma
Iva Mr. Gardner, whose daughter
q. President afterwards married, q
several others.
In October, 1916, he was sent W
a reinforcement to the squadron OF
ating on the Pacific coast, in the &C
mand of which he succeeded Conn
dore Sloat soon after his arrival
Mail Monterey, California. Here, Will
ways force of not over 800 men, OF VIII
about 600 were sailors and the
am mainder mostly American settlers
ym the region. he made a conquest OF
ork whole of California in about
In.i. months campaigning, and establish
ni'a. over il the authority of the Uni
'ny's States
''A'' In lS4g he resigned bis comm'
in the navy. In 1851 he was elec
re. to the United States Senate, where
~ procured the passage of law a
Erie ishing fogging in the navy. In a
"a, he resigned has seat in the Senate
rs retired to private life.
Commodore Stockton resided I
r.. Of the time at Princeton, and DIR