Knox County Biographies DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT VICE-ADMIRAL DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT was born July 5th, 1801, near Knoxville, Tennessee. He was a midshipman at the early age of nine years, and with Commodore Porter, in 1813, doubled Cape Horn. He was wounded in the fight in the Harbor of Valparaiso, March 28th, 1814, and was commissioned-lieutenant in 1821. In 1833, he commanded in the Brazil, and afterward in the West India squadron, and in 1841 became commander of the Frigate Decatur. He returned in 1842 to Norfolk, and was there on leave of absence till 1845; from thence he was ordered to the Norfolk navy yard, there remaining till 1847, when he was given the command of the Frigate Saratoga, and took part in the engagements which grew out of the war with Mexico. He commanded the navy yard on More Island, California, in 1854, and in 1858 commanded the sloop of war Brooklyn, from which he was relieved in 1860. In 1861 he organized a squadron for the capture of New Orleans, and in April, 1862, bombarded Forts Philip and Jackson, passed the forts, destroyed the rebel fleet, had a severe action on the 24th and on the 26th of June captured the city. He assaulted Vicksburg, and on the 11th of July was made rear admiral. In November, 1862, he captured Galveston, Texas, and on the 14th of March, 1863, passed the batteries of Port Hudson, after a severe engagement. His services in command of the gulf blockading squadron, were most efficient. On the 5th of August, 1864, he captured Forts Gaines, and Morgan, and the Earn Tennessee in Mobile Bay. In the passage of the forts, Admiral Farragut lashed himself with chains to the rigging, and displayed great heroism. He was afterward placed at the head of the Navy of the United States, with the rank of Vice-Admiral. (Source: A Complete History of the Great Rebellion of the Civil War in the U.S. 1861-1865 with Biographical sketches of the Principal actors in the Great Drama. By Dr. James Moore, Published 1875) Contributed by, Linda Rodriguez