Francis Gregory Francis Hoyt Gregory ( October 9 , 1789 – October 4 , 1866 ) was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812 through to the Civil War , serving then as a Rear Admiral . Early life ; service during the War of 1812 . Gregory was born in Norwalk , Connecticut , the son of Moses Gregory and Esther Hoyt . He was the third great - grandson of John Gregory , founding settler of Norwalk . While in the American merchant marine , he was impressed by the British in an incident typical of those which led in part to the War of 1812 . After escaping , Gregory was appointed a midshipman on January 16 , 1809 , by President Jefferson and reported to the " Revenge " , commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry . In March , 1809 , Gregory was transferred to the Gulf Squadron at New Orleans , Louisiana . In 1811 , while serving in the " Vesuvius " and as acting captain of Gun Boat 162 , Gregory participated in three notable actions . On August 7 , off Pensacola , Midshipman Gregory attacked and crippled the pirate schooner " La Franchise " . On August 10 , off Mobile , he attached and captured the pirate schooner " Santa Maria " . On September 11 , between Brassa and Barataria , Louisiana , midshipman Gregory and his crew captured the pirate ship " La Divina " , and the schooners " La Sophie " and " Le Vengeance " . During the War of 1812 , he served on Lake Ontario under Commodore Isaac Chauncey and participated in attacks on Toronto , Kingston , and Fort George . In August , 1814 , Gregory was captured by the British ; refused parole , he was sent to England and remained there until June , 1815 , months after the end of hostilities . Command assignments , 1820s to early 1830s . After he was released by the British , Gregory joined the Mediterranean Squadron and operated along the North Africa n coast until 1821 . In that year , he became captain of " Grampus " and spent the following two years cruising the West Indies to suppress piracy . While in the Indies , Gregory captured the notorious pirate brig " Panchita " and destroyed several other pirate ships . After fitting out the frigate " Brandywine " , destined to carry the Marquis de la Fayette back to France , in 1824 , Gregory sailed a 64 - gun frigate to Greece for the revolutionary government . From 1824 - 1828 he served at the New York Navy Yard , and in 1831 reported to the Pacific Station for a three - year cruise in command of " Falmouth " . Gregory served as commander of the Station for one year . Command assignments , late 1830s to 1850s . From the Pacific Ocean , Gregory — appointed a Captain in 1838 — sailed to the Gulf of Mexico , where he commanded " North Carolina " and " Raritan " and served in the blockade of the Mexican coast during the Mexican - American War . After the Mexican War , Gregory commanded the squadron off the African coast , with " Portsmouth " as his flagship , until June 1851 . Returning to the United States , he became Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard in May 1852 and served there through February 1856 . His subsequent retirement ended a Navy career that had spanned nearly 50 years . Civil War duty and last years . When the Civil War rolled across the land , Gregory returned to naval service to superintend the construction and fitting - out of naval vessels in private shipyards , including iron - clad vessels . Promoted to Rear Admiral July 16 , 1862 , he served throughout the four years of war and then retired again . Rear Admiral Gregory died in Brooklyn , New York , on October 4 , 1866 , and was buried at New Haven , Connecticut . Legacy . Two ships were named USS " Gregory " for him . There is an old family story related to Admiral Gregory during his imprisonment in England during the War of 1812 . He had been placed under " house arrest " at a country estate , where he lived by a gentleman ' s agreement not to attempt escape by passing beyond certain boundaries , one of which was defined by a large stone marker . At some point , there was a formal dinner party at another estate a mile or so away that the captain wished to attend , yet was beyond the set boundary . The dinner guests were surprised during the party by the arrival of the American captain , and he was accused of violating the terms of his incarceration by going beyond the marker . The captain smilingly ushered the complaintants outside . . . where they found a wheelbarrow parked at the far corner of the house containing the large marker stone . Admiral Gregory was married to Elizabeth , daughter of Captain John Shaw , an early naval commander and a hero of the 1st Barbary Coast campaign and the War of 1812 .