The Washington herald., 1913-12-06
HOMAGE IS PAID
ADMIRALUPSHUR
Aztec Club Felicitates Him on
r. Ninztieth Birthday
Anniversary.
FOUGHT AT VERA CRUZ
Retired Naval Officer Is Oldest Living
Graduate of United States
Naval Academy.
FOUGHT AT VERA CRUZ

Rear Admiral John II. Upshur, retired,
veteran of two wars. vice president of
the Aztec Club of 1S47, and one of the
eight surviving officers who saw service
in the Mexican war, celebrated his
ninetieth birthday yesterday, and was
remembered by many marks of honor by
his comrades ana numerous friends
throughout the country.
Many large bouquets of flowers were
received, among them being one from
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. CongratuIatory
kilograms from out-of-town friends ar
rived at his apartment in the Parkwood
Il feel too humble said Admiral
Upshur, ito have so much fuss made
over me. ] am enjoying the very best
of health and attribute my length Of
years to the abstemious life that 1 have
lived. Just feel this arm continued the
admiral fleXing that member, its not
very large but all good solid muscle.
am as active, and more active than
some men of sixty or sixty-ive.'
Memories of Aud Lang syne.
Gen. Horatio Gates Gibson. president
of the Aztec Club. with William Stone
Albert. the secretary, headed a delega-
tiOn of that organization which called on
Admiral Upshur yesterday afternoon, to
extend fluctuations. Mr.. Stone conveyed
a letter which had been received from
Loyal Farragut, son of Admiral Farra
gut, which was as follows:
New York, Dec. l, 1913
"wiIliam Stone Albert,
Secretary Aztec Club of 1S47.
Dear Sir: I regret that l cannot be
in Washington on December to pay my
respects to Admiral Upshur.
PLEASE express to him my congratula-
enIr AL..N fralf 7
doff my hat but as Mr.. Upshur'-with
memory of Aud Lang Syne'-I embrace
him! Sincerely yours.
'LoYALL FARRAGUT."
The members of the delegation were:
Gen. Horatio C. Gibson, Admiral James
H. Watmough, Judge Alexander b. Hag-
ner. Col. Hamilton Rowan, Gen Benz.
+. Roberts, Col. Henry May, Rev. Will
:am Tayloe Snyder, J. Kennedy Stout,
Col James NJ. Morgan, Robert F. Shep-
ard, Col. Charles L. McCawley, Capt Ed
"ard w. Anderson, J. Upshur Moorhead,
William S. Albert, and ]. Malcolm Henry.
Immediately after the call of the Aztec
Club, a delegation from the Metropolitan
Club called and escorted the admiral to
the Metropolitan Club, where he was
the guest of nonor AT a reception from
until o'clock. Admiral Upshur said
he felt like debutante.''
Oldest Living Graduate.
Admiral Upshur is. the oldest living
graduate of the United States Naval
Academy, and during his long and active
career has been flag captain of three
squadrons and flag lieutenant of one. He
las been dean of the line for six years.
Porn in 1873, in Northampton County,
Virginia, where his ancestors settled in
1923, he entered the naval service in
IS4l, and first 'smelt powder at the
capture of Vera Cruz.
He accompanied Commodore Perry on
his famous expedition to Japan, in 1855,
and was detailed to the flagship OF
Admiral Dupoat's South Atlantic Squad
ron at the outbreak of the civil war.
His family urged him to cast his lot
with the Confederacy, but he refused. In
the notable engagement at Fort Fisher,
n. c. by ordering the five gunboats
under his command to lombard the Con-
federate shore forces, he was instru-
mental in frustrating an attack on the
Union rear.
Among the many commands held by
Admiral Upshur after the war was rear
admiral of the Pacific Squadron. After
forty-four years of active service, he was
retired, in 1885, and has since made his
home in this city.