John Pritchett Gillis (6 September 1803 – 25 February 1873) was a commodore in the United States Navy. He served in the Navy from 1825 until 1866 and saw military action in the Mexican-American War and the U.S. Civil War.
Biography
thumb|John P. Gillis Memorial in [[Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery]]
Gillis was born in Wilmington, Delaware. As a teenager, he moved to Illinois in 1819 with his family but later came back to Delaware. Gillis was appointed midshipman in 1825 and served on the . He was promoted to lieutenant in 1837 and his first command was the schooner Albion. He also served on the and the during service on the Mediterranean Sea. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and was assigned insignia number 267.
Commodore Gillis died on February 25, 1873, in Wilmington and is interred in the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery.
Namesake
The destroyer was named for him and Commodore James Henry Gillis.