Joseph P . Fyffe Joseph P . Fyffe ( 26 July 1832 - 25 February 1896 ) was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy . He saw service in both the Mexican War and the American Civil War . Naval career . Fyffe was born in Champaign County , Ohio , on 26 July 1832 , the son of Edward Pierce Fyffe ( 1810 – 1867 ) and the former Sarah Ann Robinson ( 1814 – 1872 ) . He was appointed a midshipman on 9 September 1847 . He was attached first to the bomb brig in the Home Squadron from 1847 to 1848 , seeing service on blockade duty off Mexico during the Mexican War . His next assignment was to the sloop - of - war off the coast of Africa from 1848 to 1850 , after which he was back in the Home Squadron during 1852 . He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis , Maryland , from 1853 to 1854 and , upon completing his studies , was promoted to passed midshipman on 15 June 1854 . Fyffe was assigned to special service aboard the screw frigate in 1855 , and was promoted to lieutenant on 16 September 1855 . He served aboard the store ship in the Brazil Squadron from 1856 to 1857 , aboard the sloop - of - war in the East India Squadron from 1857 to 1859 , and on the steam sloop from 1860 to 1861 . The American Civil War broke out in April 1861 , and Fyffe was promoted to lieutenant commander on 16 July 1862 . He served aboard the steam frigate , flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron , from 1863 to 1865 . While aboard " Minnesota " , he participated in the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America , and took part in the destruction of the blockade runner " Hebe " and of two Confederate guns on the beach near Fort Fisher , North Carolina , in August 1863 ; the destruction of the blockade runner " Ranger " and an engagement with Confederate infantry near Fort Caswell , North Carolina , in January 1864 ; combat with Confederate artillery above Coxs Wharf on Virginias James River in May 1864 ; two engagements with Confederate artillery on the James River in June 1864 , at Deep Bottom and at Curtiss Neck near Tilghmans Wharf ; and an engagement with Confederate artillery and rams on the James River at Dutch Gap in January 1865 . After the Civil War , Fyffe performed duty at the Boston Navy Yard in Charlestown , Massachusetts , in 1867 and was promoted to commander on 2 December 1867 . He served aboard the screw sloop - of - war in the Asiatic Squadron from 1868 to 1869 . He was commanding officer of the monitor ( known briefly as USS " Centaur " in 1869 ) in the North Atlantic Fleet from 1869 to 1870 , officer - in - charge of the nitre depot at Malden , Massachusetts , from 1871 to 1872 , and commanding officer of the sidewheel gunboat in the Asiatic Squadron from 1875 to 1878 . Promoted to captain on 13 January 1879 , Fyffe commanded the receiving ship at League Island in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , from 1879 to 1880 and the receiving ship at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk , Virginia , from 1880 to 1882 . He returned to sea as commanding officer of the screw steamer on the Pacific Station from 1882 to 1883 , and then returned to the Boston Navy Yard for duty from 1885 to 1888 . Fyffe was promoted to commodore on 28 February 1889 , then awaited orders from 1889 to 1890 . He was on special duty at Boston , Massachusetts , as President of the Board to Examine Naval and Merchant Vessels from October 1890 to June 1891 , and from 29 June 1891 to June 1893 he was commander of Naval Station New London at New London , Connecticut . In his final tour , he served as commander of the Boston Navy Yard and Naval Station from 13 July 1893 to July 1894 . As Fyffe approached his mandatory retirement at age 62 on 26 July 1894 , he faced the possibility of retiring as a commodore rather than as a rear admiral , as no rear admiral billets were due to become open before that date . Rear Admiral Joseph S . Skerrett was due to retire upon reaching the age of 62 on 18 January 1895 , but in order to make room for Fyffe to be promoted , Skerrett voluntarily requested an earlier retirement based on time in service . Skerrett thus was placed on the retired list early , on 9 July 1894 , allowing Fyffe to be promoted to rear admiral on 10 July 1894 . Fyffe then retired as a rear admiral on 20 July 1894 . Personal life . Fyffe was married to the former Clifford Neff ( 25 April 1840 - 19 January 1911 ) . Among their children were Elizabeth Fyffe ( 1867 - 1958 ) and Mary Fyffe Mitchell ( 1873 - 1934 ) . Death . Fyffe died on 25 February 1896 in Champaign County , Ohio . He is buried with his wife at Oak Dale Cemetery in Urbana , Ohio .