Lewis Kimberly Rear Admiral Lewis Ashfield Kimberly ( April 22 , 1830 – January 28 , 1902 ) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War and the years following . Biography . Early life and career . Kimberly was born in Troy , New York , and was appointed a midshipman on 8 December 1846 . He served aboard the sloop in the Africa Squadron in 1847 – 50 , then in the Pacific aboard the frigate during 1850 – 52 , receiving promotion to passed midshipman on June 8 , 1852 . He then returned to African waters , serving in the sloops and in 1853 – 56 , and was promoted to master and lieutenant on September 15 and 16 , 1855 . Kimberly spent some time stationed at the Boston Navy Yard , and then served aboard the sloop in the East India Squadron between July 1857 and April 1860 , before joining the newly commissioned steam sloop which sailed for the Mediterranean in October 1860 , finally returning to the United States in July 1861 after the outbreak of the Civil War . Civil War service . In 1861 – 62 Kimberly served aboard the frigate in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron , taking part in the Mississippi River operations at Port Hudson , Grand Gulf , and Vicksburg , and receiving promotion to lieutenant commander on July 16 , 1862 . In 1863 – 64 he served as the executive officer of the steam sloop , seeing action at the Battle of Mobile Bay , after which he was warmly commended for his gallant and efficient service . After the war , he joined the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States . Post - war commands . From May 1865 Kimberly served aboard the steam frigate , the flagship of the European Squadron , receiving promotion to commander on July 25 , 1866 , and returning the United States in September 1867 . He commanded the receiving ship at New York in 1867 – 70 , then the screw sloop on the Asiatic Station in 1870 – 72 , taking part in the Korean expedition in May – July 1871 , serving as the commander of the landing forces . He then commanded the monitor along the east coast in 1873 – 74 . Kimberly was promoted to captain on October 3 , 1874 , and commanded the sloop on the South Atlantic Station in 1875 – 76 , and the screw sloop in the Pacific in 1877 – 78 . During the early 1880s Kimberly served at the New York Navy Yard , and was the President of the Examining and Retiring Board in 1883 – 85 , gaining promotion to commodore on September 27 , 1884 . He was appointed Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard in 1885 , and attained the rank of rear admiral on January 26 , 1887 . He was then appointed the Commander - in - Chief of the Pacific Squadron . In March 1889 , during the Samoan crisis , his flagship was struck by a violent cyclone while at harbor at Apia . Guiding his men with the words , " If we go down , let us do so with our flag flying , " Kimberly skillfully beached his flagship , losing only one man in the raging storm that wrecked " Trenton " . Following his return to the United States in January 1890 , Kimberly was appointed President of the Board of Inspection and Survey ; holding the post until his retirement on April 2 , 1892 . Rear Admiral Kimberly died on January 28 , 1902 in West Newton , Massachusetts . Namesakes . Two U . S . Navy destroyers have been named USS " Kimberly " his honor ; ( 1918 – 1939 ) and ( 1943 – 1967 ) .