Alexander Alderman Semmes

Infobox Military Person
name= Alexander Alderman Semmes
born= circa 1825
died= 22 September 1885
placeofbirth= Maryland
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy Union Navy
serviceyears= 27 October 1841 - June 1883
rank= Commodore, 10 March 1882
unit= USS "Rhode Island"
USS "Wamsutta"
USS "Tahoma"
commands|battles= American Civil War
Battle of the Riceboro River
Religion=
awards=
laterwork=Third president of the Board of Inspection and Survey, (unknown date) to June 1883 Alexander Alderman Semmes was born in circa 1825 and served with the U.S. Navy in the American Civil War. He was a distant cousin of the Confederate naval officer Raphael Semmes.

Military rank

Alexander Semmes was a U.S. Navy midshipman on 27 October 1841, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 September 1855, and to Lieutenant Commander on 16 July 1862. He attained the rank of Captain on 24 August 1873 and that of Commodore on 10 March 1882. [ [http://www.spawar.navy.mil/fleet/insurv/htmlbios/semmes.htm Commodore Semmes] by Robert Macomber. Accessed October 3, 2008.]

American Civil War operations

He served on the USS "Rhode Island" as a lieutenant during the first year of the American Civil War, when the vessel made her capture of the "Aristides" off of Charlotte harbor.

He was given his first command in March of 1862 of the USS "Wamsutta" and participated in the Battle of the Riceboro River.

He was promoted to lieutenant commander in July of 1862 and given command of the newly-built 158 foot screw (propeller) gunboat USS "Tahoma" on 17 October 1862. With the "Tahoma", which served in the East Gulf Blockade Squadron commanded by Admiral Cornelius Stribling, he was able to effect seven captures off the west coast of Florida in addition to launching an expeditionary attack at Tampa Bay and engaging the shore batteries at Gadsden Point in April of 1863.

hore duty

On (unknown date) Semmes was named the third president of the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey which was initially formed in 1868. He served the board as president until June 1883.

Personal life

Semmes married Mary Dorsey of Baltimore, Maryland, 9 February 1864. And, after a lengthy service with the U.S. Navy, he passed away on 22 September 1885.

ee also

* American Civil War
* USS Rhode Island
* USS Wamsutta
* USS Tahoma
* Board of Inspection and Survey

Note

The first reference below indicates Alexander Semmes’ birthdate as 1809; however Alexander Semmes was 16 years older than his cousin Raphael Semmes who was born in 1809, which indicates that Alexander Semmes was born in 1825.

References