David Glascoe Farragut (b. July 5, 1801; d. August 14, 1870) supplies the highest type of the skillful, cautious American naval commander, backed up by extraordinary dash and boldness. His signal achievements during the Civil War were the destruction of the Confederate fleet in the Mississippi, the capture of New Orleans, the passage of the forts at Port Hudson and the batteries at Vicksburg, and the capture of Mobile. For his brilliant and successful services the rank of vice-admiral was especially created for him by the government, and afterwards that of admiral.
John Adolf Dahlgren (b. November 13, 1809; d. July 12, 1870) was a prime agent in developing the Naval Ordnance Department and its works at Washington. He invented and made the well-known Dahlgren guns. During the Civil War he commanded the South Atlantic blockading squadron, of some ninety vessels, and did splendid service for the Union cause. He was author of many naval articles and books, some of the latter being used as text books by the government.
GEN. GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI.
Raphael Semmes (b. September 27, 1809; d. August 30, 1877) types more fully than any other the naval dash and efficiency of the Confederacy. In him, as commander of the Sumter and Alabama, the merchant marine of the United States found its direst enemy, and his exploits upon the ocean won for him a fame which overshadowed those of even higher rank, but whose services were limited to narrower fields of naval activity.
Admiral George Dewey (b. December 26, 1837) acquired considerable naval experience in the Civil War. At the breaking out of hostilities with Spain (1898) he was in command of the U. S. squadron in Eastern waters, and was ordered to destroy the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila. His attack was prompt and daring, and it ended in one of the most notable victories in the history of naval warfare. In a few hours the entire fleet of Spain in the Orient was swept away, together with her power, and the United States was placed in possession of a new and magnificent island empire whose maintenance and government may change the whole history of the Orient, if not of the world.
Admiral Sampson’s contribution to the century’s progress lies in the line of skillful preparation for emergencies, and promptitude in meeting them. He became an epoch-maker in the history of the United States by means of the great and decisive victory over the Spaniards, won by the fleet under his command in the waters off Santiago.
Preachers and Teachers.—The Rev. James McCosh (b. April 1, 1811; d. November 6, 1894) was an able leader of that great school of literary men, scholars, educators, and aggesssive practical thinkers which this century chiefly seems to have produced.
His contribution to modern progress lies mainly along three lines:—
First, in his efforts to obtain the Free Church of Scotland, and establish it.