John Irwin ( admiral ) Rear Admiral John Irwin ( 15 April 1832 - 28 July 1901 ) was an officer in the United States Navy . He participated in the African Slave Trade Patrol , fought in the American Civil War , and served as Commander of the Asiatic and Pacific Squadrons . Naval career . Irwin was born in Pittsburg ( now Pittsburgh ) or Lancaster ( sources vary ) , Pennsylvania , on 15 April 1832 . He was the son of United States Congressman William W . Irwin ( 1803 - 1856 ) and Frances Everallyn Rose Irwin ( 1809 - 1836 ) . Early career . Irwin was appointed as a midshipman on 9 September 1847 and immediately went to sea , being attached to the frigate in the Home Squadron from 1847 to 1848 , to the frigate in the Mediterranean Squadron from 1849 to 1850 , and to the frigate on the African Slave Trade Patrol off the west coast of Africa from 1851 to 1853 . He was promoted to passed midshipman on 10 June 1853 . Assigned to the sidewheel steamer in the Home Squadron from 1854 to 1856 , Irwin was promoted to master on 16 September 1855 and then to lieutenant on the same day . His next assignment was with the United States Coast Survey from 1857 to 1858 . He then served aboard the frigate in the Home Squadron from 1859 to 1860 . American Civil War . In 1861 , Irwin reported for duty aboard the screw frigate . The American Civil War broke out in April 1861 , and Irwin saw a great deal of action against Confederate forces aboard " Wabash " . During Irwins tour , " Wabash " participated in the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark at Hatteras Inlet , North Carolina , on 29 August 1861 , before becoming the flagship of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron , one of the squadrons engaged in the Union blockade of Confederate ports . " Wabash " then took part in the capture of Fort Walker , Fort Beauregard , and Port Royal Sound , South Carolina , in the Battle of Port Royal on 7 November 1861 . Irwin later was in command of boat howitzer s " Wabash " placed ashore during the Battle of Port Royal Ferry , South Carolina , on 1 January 1862 , and was aboard " Wabash " for the Battle of Fort Pulaski at Cockspur Island , Georgia , on 10 – 11 April 1862 . He was promoted to lieutenant commander on 16 July 1862 . Leaving " Wabash " in 1863 , Irwin performed ordnance duty at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , in 1864 , transferring later in 1864 to sea duty in the Gulf of Mexico , where he served in the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron through the end of the war in 1865 . Post - Civil War . After the Civil War , Irwin was assigned to special duty at Philadelphia from 1866 to 1867 and was promoted to commander on 25 July 1866 . He then returned to sea , serving in the North Atlantic Squadron from 1868 to 1871 , in command successively of the steamer in 1868 , the steamer from 1868 to 1870 , and the screw gunboat from 1870 to 1871 . After spending 1872 on duty at League Island in Philadelphia , Irwin was commanding officer of the sailing frigate , then operating as a training ship , from 1873 to 1875 . He was promoted to captain on 15 May 1875 , and commanded the screw steamer , flagship of the Pacific Station , from 1875 to 1879 . Irwin then began a lengthy series of shore tours , beginning with an assignment at Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo , California , from 1879 to 1883 , followed by special duty in 1884 and a tour as President of the Board of Inspection , California , from 1884 to 1888 , during which he was promoted to commodore on 4 March 1886 . He was idle , awaiting orders , from 13 December 1889 to 12 July 1890 , when he assumed duties as a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey . He was promoted to rear admiral on 19 May 1891 . Departing the Board in June 1891 , Irwin finally returned to sea when he assumed command of the Asiatic Squadron on 7 June 1891 . He arrived in Honolulu , Hawaii , suddenly and unexpectedly on 6 November 1893 to replace Commodore Joseph S . Skerrett there as commander - in - chief of the Pacific Squadron ; Skerrett traded places with Irwin , taking command of the Asiatic Sqiadron . Irwin soon became involved in the " Black Week " crisis of December 1893 - January 1894 , during which war nearly broke out between the United States and the Provisional Government of Hawaii . Irwin was placed on the Retired List on 15 April 1894 upon the reaching the mandatory retirement age of 62 . He hauled down his flag for the final time aboard the protected cruiser at Honolulu the following day . Retirement and death . In retirement , Irwin resided in Washington , D . C . , where he died at his home late on the evening of 28 July 1901 after an illness of several months . He left behind his wife , a daughter , and a son , also named John Irwin , who at the time was paymaster aboard the training ship .