New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-14
SKETCH OF THE ADMIRAL'S CAREER.

SKETCH OF THE ADMIkaLS CAhLEh
David Dixon Porter comes of family of sailors
His great grandfather was a Boston smpmaster, MS
grandfather carried letters OF marque under the Con
,,nentaI Congress His father Commodore David Por-
ter rendered the of the Essex terror to the
pJtsh I'm the War Of 1872 and achieved reputation
which no doubt did much to fire the ambition OF his
AIMS After the close Of the War OF 1872 he served
a. a member Sf the Board Of Navy Commissioners from
1915 10 1923, but he gladly seized the opportunity
20 get another taste Of seaghng, and took command
In 1924 of an expedition set on foot TO punish the
wes, Indian pirates On his return home in 1925 he
was tried by courtmartal and was convicted OF nav
ing exceeded his authority in visiting punishment on
considerable rgor the Oiclas of one OF the lsSds
for Insulting the American flag. lie was suspended
from his command for six months. and in 1926 ne re-
signed and took command of the Mexican Navy lie
never entered the United states Navy again, but III
1920 he sent as Consul to Algiers. III looo
he was made Charge d'Anares 10 Turkey, ana al'er-
ward became Minister Resident He died at Pera' near
Constantinope March o. 1934, leaving besides DaVid
d. another son, born five years earlier. who was also
destined TO render distinguished service In the Navy
during the War Of the Rebellion. Commander William
d. Porter made gallant fight In the attack OH fol'
Henry, Tenn, and was temporarily blinded thfousn
Injuries received during that memo able bohoalue''
The destruction OF the Rebel ram ARKANSAS
on August 6, 1862, the shorthved terror Oh
the Mississippi, on her way to take part III
the battle Of Baton Rouge but day TOO lae' was HIS
most striking exploit though the Confederate oicers
claim TO have blown up the Arkansas themselves IL
they did So II under the guns OF the Essex ana ny
way of suicide TO escape execution He became com
,nodore bpt feeble health prevented him from taking
uch part in the after 1862, and on May l. lo04'
lie died in New-York City.
FIRST A MEXICAN MIDsHIPMAN.
David Dixon Porter born at Philadelphia on June
6. His first connection with the Navy was IN
1924 when he accompanied his father TO the NeSt
Indies, where he witnessed the suppression Oh
piracy. When his father took command OF the MeAi
can Navy during her with Spain he secured LOT
his own son an appointment as midshipman ana sent
him TO sea in the Esmeralda, a schooner COMMANDED
by David IL. Porter, enterprisng young omcer OF
twenty-one years, who had served In the uhlteo
States Navy, and cousin OF DAVID u. III Nar0i
1928, young David sailed In the brig GUERRERO VI
twenty-five guns commanded by Captain d. H. for'er'
for the Cuban coast of Mariel. large convoy Vf
Spanish vessels accompanied by two bres OF war
was encountered In twenty minutes one oil the
brgs struck her coors and several OF tue conveys WEI"
sunk The MexicanS would soon have won the Dd''Io
had not the Spanish frgate Lealtad OF sXy1our guns
hove in sight. The Guerrero sailed to the nofu"diu
but in the morning again encountered the frgate Gap
tain Porter gave battle and maintained the unequa hgH
for nearly two hours, not striking his coloIs uhtl te
brig was filled with the dead and the dying ana hei
spars and sails torn TO pieces as 10 hdAe her Ut
terIv unmanageable. As soon the Spalliards saw
and ran down to the Guerrero. delivering TWO heV'
hroadsdes when within 100 yards. During THIS
cowardy firing Captain Porter was cut IN TWO ny
round shot, and his remains, instead OF Des lhtereo
with military honors according to the usaees vi wa"
were barbarously thrown overheard by the Vc'ois Ill
Main view of the land. on February =, lo2o, Porter
was appointed as "a mdshipman in the Cnlied states
Navy and in 1880 he attached TO the iTleale
Constellation of the Mediterranean squadron. Inc
years 1885, 1884 and 1885, after enjoying leave oi
absence he also passed in the Mediterranean, pens
attached to the frgate United States during the first
two wears and TO the ship-oftheine Delaware uuilhp
the last year. He was made a passed mldshipman III
is35 and from 1887 10 1910 he engaged In Coast
Survey duty. In le41 he was made lieutenant anu
from l643 TO 1e45 he was attached W INC Hlsa'o
Congress- of tho Mediterranean squadron lie was
ordered to the Naval Observatory at Washington IN
1916 and in the year lie was sent as speciai
commissioner to Domingo under the state depart
nmt In ls47 he was attached TO the Gull squadron
and was actively engaged in all the naval operations
on the east coast of Mexico during the war Wth t't
country serving first lieutenant OF the epluHc'
and adding a new lustre TO name ALREADY ro
rarded in the United States as synonyme lor NaoT'
He was present at the two attacks on vera cruz anu
one ON Tuxpam and one at Tobasco, and also TOOK
mart in the land fights at Tamultee and Chhou VIII!
kixty-eight men Lieutenant Porter captured forI
turbide Of nine heavy guns and 700 men, Fof Iis ao
lion he was given command Of the optire During
VII wv
survey duty. In 1850 he received leave Oh ao
sence to enable him to command and take out to
California "'round the Horn" the Pacific Mail steam
shin Panama. After brief experience OF the acute
between san Francisco and the lsthmus, he gave up
Al. sarvjce Of Rowland d Aspinwal and from 1851
IN 1884 commanded for Marshall o. Roberts the
,ar.rs Geo,ria and Crescent City, the
oonposition routeo between New-lork and ChagreS,
nv way of Havana and NewoFeahs' lie
ran the Crescent City into the harDor OF havana al inc
time of the Black Warrior excitement when the spanish
Government had enOined any United States ship from
entering that port lie stood boldly In, ana his very
opd.citv disarmed the guns of MORO Castle lie was
given another leave of absence In 1854 Returning TO
dnty In 1855, he commanded the storeshlp supply
mill 1s57 and from 1858 to 1860 was attached TO the
Portsmouth Navy Yard
EARLY WAR SERVICE.
Rv the resignation Of the Southern sympahizers
o,c the Federal officers in s6l,Lieutenant Porter
as advanced in rank until he stood seventy nine on
the list of commanders (Aprl %, 1eolr lie was
actively employed from the beginning 10 The cioSe OF
the Rebellion. Taking an active part IN all inc carry
counses of President Lincoln and his Cabinet LOOKING
70 the recovery or relief Of the National forts and
navy wards captured beeagueied by the secession
lists Lieutenant Porter was in April, 1901, assigned
10 the command Of the steam gate Powhatan des'lne'
for the relief Of Fort PckenS, in Pensacola IlarOor
under orders from the secretary Of State so very secre
that not the Secretary OF the Navy was P'V'o'
10 know of them. Thus it happened that when FOtc
came 20 New York to assume the command he ioulc
tho shin about TO proceed the relief of Fort eumte
under another captain, in accordance win ahoVhei
set of secret orders from Mr. Welles Confding IN th
support of Lincoln and Seward Porter practically raj
,way with the Powhatan and executed his purpose
Aferward he remained in Florida waters until he tooi
command of the mortar fleet intended Tor the ataci
on New Orleans under Admiral FarraSut
AT THE TAKING OF NEWoRLEANs.
Porter was so active In the work of organizing th'
aotilla that when Farragut reached the Southwes
Pass with the big feet he found the "bummers, "a
the sailors called Porters mort&rboas. waiting TO
him. on the 18th of April. 1862, Porter opened hr