Thomas H . Stevens , Jr . Thomas Holdup Stevens , Jr . ( 27 May 1819 – 13 May 1896 ) was an admiral of the United States Navy who fought in the American Civil War . Early life and commission . Stevens , the son of Captain Thomas Holdup Stevens ( 1795 – 1841 ) was born in Middletown , Connecticut , on 27 May 1819 . He was appointed acting midshipman on 14 December 1836 and , after two years at sea in , was warranted midshipman . After three months leave , from April to June 1840 , he served at the Depot of Charts and Instruments . Following a tour at the Washington Navy Yard and coast survey duty at New York , he attended the Naval School at Philadelphia , stood his examination on 2 June 1842 , and was warranted a passed midshipman on 2 July . Between 1842 and 1855 , Stevens served at various posts ashore , among which were two tours on coast survey duty , one tour as acting master of during her construction and 30 months as storekeeper in Honolulu , Hawaii . In September 1855 , Lt . Stevens was dropped from the Navy under an Act of 28 February 1855 . American Civil War . On 29 January 1858 , he was recommissioned a lieutenant . From then until the outbreak of the Civil War , Stevens served with the Home Squadron , principally in , , and " Michigan " . On 4 September 1861 , he assumed command of . In November , he fought at Port Royal , South Carolina and helped capture Forts Beauregard and Walker . Between New Year ' s Day and 4 March 1862 , he blockade d the coast of Florida and helped to capture Fort Clinch , and the towns of Fernandina and St . Mary ' s . He also commanded the first expedition up the St . Johns River in March and April . Late in April , he transferred to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron , and to the command of . He commanded her in operations supporting General George McClellan ' s advance during the Peninsula Campaign in May 1862 . On 15 July , he was promoted to commander and , from 9 May to 6 September , commanded . He was ordered to the command of on 12 September and led her on to capture five Confederate ships and , in a 34 - hour chase , privateer " Florida " . On 18 June 1863 , Commander Stevens was detached from " Sonoma " at New York and , on 3 August , he was directed to report to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron . Rear Admiral John A . Dahlgren , the squadron commander , placed Stevens in command of the ironclad and , between 21 August and 4 November , he led attacks on the defenses of Charleston harbor . By 1 July 1864 , Comdr . Stevens commanded , operating with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron . There , he took part in operations before Mobile , until 3 August . Admiral David Farragut then ordered him to command the double - turret ed monitor which he led in attacks on Fort Powell and in the Battle of Mobile Bay on the 5th . He resumed command of " Oneida " on 18 August and retained it through the end of the war and until August 1865 . Flag officer . In 1866 , Comdr . Stevens was appointed lighthouse inspector for the 11th Treasury District . During that assignment , he was promoted to captain . He was detached from duty as lighthouse inspector on 14 September and , on 26 July 1870 , was ordered to command in the European Squadron . Stevens was promoted to commodore on 19 February 1873 , to date from 20 November 1872 , and was assigned to the Norfolk Navy Yard — first as commanding officer , then on a special assignment related to Norfolk harbor . In 1879 , he was promoted to rear admiral to date from 19 January 1880 . On 19 August 1880 , Rear Admiral Stevens was ordered to the command of the Pacific Squadron . He relinquished that command on 16 May 1881 , pending his retirement on 27 May . Stevens was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States as well as an honorary companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars . Rear Admiral Stevens died at Rockville , Maryland , on 13 May 1896 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery . Legacy . In 1942 , the destroyer was named in honor of both R . Adm . Stevens and his father , Capt . Thomas H . Stevens .