James Shedden Palmer (October 13, 1810 – December 7, 1867) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Civil War. He was later promoted to rear admiral.
Biography
Palmer was born at Elizabethtown, New Jersey. He entered the United States Navy on August 26, 1824, as Ship's Boy, aboard . Palmer was appointed midshipman January 1, 1825. He commanded during the Mexican–American War, and and during the Civil War. He commanded the Naval Station at New Orleans and the West Gulf Squadron during 1864. Appointed to command the West Indies Squadron in 1865, he was commissioned rear admiral on July 25, 1866, and died at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Ranks held
- Ship's Boy – August 26, 1824
- Midshipman – January 1, 1825
- Passed Midshipman – June 4, 1831
- Lieutenant – December 17, 1836
- Commander – September 14, 1855
- Captain – July 16, 1862
- Commodore – February 7, 1863
- Rear Admiral – July 25, 1866
Civil War service
Palmer was commanding officer of Iroquois, which was part of the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron at the time of the attack on Fort Sumter. He returned to the United States in January 1862, where he was on leave, without orders, until March, when he was re-appointed commander of the Iroquois. He saw service as part of Farragut's Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, and was one of the captains present at the attack and capture of New Orleans, and at Farragut's attempt to do the same at Vicksburg in 1862. Promoted to captain for his role in the victory at New Orleans in July of that year, the following month he took command of Farragut's flagship Hartford. On 7 February 1863, Palmer was promoted to Commodore.
See also
- Bibliography of American Civil War naval history
- Union Navy
- Confederate Navy
Bibliography
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Further reading
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