The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-01
HoosIER PROMOTED.
Rear Admiral Brown Now senior
Officer OF the Navy.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.--Rear Admiral
James Greer retired to-day on account OF
age, and Rear Admiral George Brown, COM
mandant at the Norfolk navy yard became
the senior officer of the navy.
Among the nominations sent to the Senate
to-day by the President were the following:
Commodore William A. kirkland, to be a
rear admiral; Captain Francis NJ Bunce, to
be a commodore; Commander Purnell F..
mander Samuel Wherry, to be commanders:
Lieutenant John A. Rodgers, to be iieuten-
ant commander Lieutenant Gunior grade)
A. G. Almy, to be lieutenant.
This city cannot help taking some pride
in the fact that Rear Admiral Brown. who
has succeeded to the position of senior OFF,
Ger of the United States navy, is citizen
OF Indianapolis. or rather this city is the
home OF his family, the Rear Admiral hav-
ing had little time to spend ashore during
the years of his active service. He has
seen forty-six years of active service and
is still bale and hearty man, on whons
his years do not severely tell. He was born
In Rushville June 10, 1885, and Is accordingly
nearly sixty years old. He was appointed
midshipman before he was fourteen. years
OF age and entered on his studies at An
napolis where he graduated In 1850. As
early as 1862 he was made lieutenant COM
mander became commander I'm 1856, cap
tain In 1877. a commodore ten years later
and became rear admiral I'm 1888. when he
was commander-in-chief of the Pacinc sta
tion Since 1893 he has been COM
mandant OF the Norfolk navy yard.
During the war he took part In establish
leans. He was In comand of the flagship
OF the Famous Monitor fleet and was In
the first battle at Nicksburg. In 1863. With
headquarters at Cincinnati he superin-
tended the building OF the iron.clsd cincln-
natl and with her Joined Admiral Porter's
fleet at vlcksSurg. Early In 1863 he was
wounded In a river engagement and was
taken prisoner He was In eleven prisons
and was exchanged from Libby In May,
1863. He at once was placed In command
under Farragut AZ Mobile. After the SUR
render of Mobile he went TO Texas ana
established the Rio Grande blockade. Later
he was present at the capture or Mobile.
II Is claimed he personally fired the last
naval gun OF the war while on the expedi-
tion up the Alabama river.
After the war he delivered 20 japan the
confederate iron-clad Stonewall purchased
by that government. For number or
year he cruising on the Pacinc being
senior officer OF the South Pacific squadron
during the war between chill and Peru AZ
the close OF the war In Chfll he received ON
board a number of officers of tho over
thrown army, who would have been put TO
death but for his protection. He WAS ac-
cused of being spy. but his action was ap-.
and President Harrison commended his en-
deavors I'm the Presidents annual message:
While In the Pacific Admiral Brown visited
Hawaii was personal friend or King l>nla-
kaua, who died on his American visit while
under the protection of the Admiral.
Admiral Brown will be the senior officer
OF the navy until June ~, 1887, when ne VIII
be retired according TO law.