William F. Lynch

Infobox Military Person
name = William Francis Lynch
lived = 1 April 1801 - 17 October 1865
placeofbirth = Norfolk, Virginia
placeofdeath = Baltimore, Maryland


caption =
nickname =
allegiance = Confederate States of America
serviceyears = 1819-1861 with the U.S. Navy; 1961-1865 with the Confederate Navy
rank = Captain
branch = Virginia State Navy
unit =
battles = led defenses of Aquia Creek, Virginia; Roanoke Island; naval forces at Vicksburg; and Fort Fisher, North Carolina
awards = paroled 3 May 1865 in Richmond, Virginia

William Francis Lynch was born in Norfolk, Virginia, 1 April 1801. He served with the United States Navy until the outbreak of the American Civil War, when he was forced to choose sides, at which time he resigned from the U.S. Navy and accepted a commission in the Navy of the Confederate States of America.

U.S. Navy service

He was appointed a midshipman 26 January 1819, and first saw service in "Congress" and next in U.S. schooner "Shark" under Lt. Mathew Perry. Subsequent service included duty with Commodore Porter’s “Mosquito Squadron” in the West Indies and in the Mediterranean.

Middle East operations

Lieutenant Lynch had his first command, the "Poinsett", from 3 March to 30 December 1839. In 1847, he proceeded to the Sea of Galilee, dragging overland two copper hulled boats and sailed down the Jordan River despite both hostile Arab tribesmen and hazardous rapids. His expedition ended with the successful exploration of the Dead Sea. In 1849 he was commissioned commander and in 1850 was promoted to captain. In 1852, he requested permission to explore the interior of Africa for purposes of possible colonization. In his exploration in west central Africa, he caught a fever, and was forced to return to the United States.

Joining the Confederate cause

On 21 April 1861, he resigned from the U.S. Navy. He was initially appointed captain in the Virginia Navy and on 10 June 1861, captain in the Confederate States Navy. He commanded naval batteries at Aquia Creek, Virginia, during their shelling by Union gunboats in May 1861, was in charge of the defense of Roanoke Island in February 1862, and led Confederate naval forces at Vicksburg, Mississippi from March to October 1862.

Later in command of ships in North Carolina waters, he commanded southern forces during the Union attack on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in December 1864 and January 1865.

Post-war retirement

After the defeat of the Confederacy, he was paroled 3 May 1865 in Richmond, Virginia. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, on 17 October of the same year.

Honored in ship naming

The USS Lynch (T-AGOR-7) was named in Lynch’s honor.

Reference

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