Farragut High School - Where the Action is Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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AVID GLASGOW One hundred and forty years ago on July 5, David Glasgow Farragut was born fnear Knoxville, Tenn.J son of George Anthony, a full blooded Spaniard whose family history showed fighting blood as far back as 1229. Since his father became a Master in the United States Navy when David was six and he himself was adopted by Commodore David Porter a year later, he grew up with the smell of the sea in his nostrils. In 1807 his father was sent to New Orleans to command a gunboat. Often he took his children out on a yawl on the trip from New Orleans to Havana. Once when during a bad storm he was criticized for exposing his children to such dangers, he answered, Now is the time to conquer their fearsf' David under Commodore Porter's expert training had many such experiences which taught him to face peril with unruffled composure. He became a midshipman in the Navy when he was nine years old. At twelve David was put in command of a prize whaler, which he was ordered to convoy to Valparaiso. While other boys spent their time on larks he studied and made notes on the rigging, guns, fittings and practices found aboard foreign ships. Farragut learned that having an influential foster-father proved an impediment to his advancement. Commodore Porter always considered him too young for promotionff Although it rankled that many who entered the Navy after him became lieutenants before him, he was never soured by his ill- fortune. He never lost pluck or ambition and worked all the harder to fit himself to seize the opportunities when they came. When he was 23 he took command of his Hrst naval ship in the war with the West India pirates. The Civil War found him the best equipped man in the Navy and although he applied for an active command he waited months for an appointment. As an ofhcer of Southern birth leaving Virginia when it seceded and moving to New York, he was looked upon with suspicion. Ordered December, 1861, to take command of an expedition against New Orleans, Farragut hoisted his flag on the U. S. Hartford and spent months making preparations for the capture which took place at the end of April. On August 5th, 1864, occurred the battle of Mobile Bay where he spoke his s

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DAVID G. FABBAGUT FIRST U. s. ABMIBAL

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FABB famous words, Damn the torpedoes. Full speed aheadln That year he was promoted to Vice-Admiral, the first to hold this rank and two years later became the first Admiral in the United States Navy, as a national recognition of distinguished service and exalted patriotism. In 1867 he was permitted to take Mrs. Farragut with him on a European coastal cruise of good will. To his death on August 14, 1870, he lived up to the words published about him in the British Army and Navy Gazette after his capture of Mobile- his feats of arms place him at the head of his profession, and certainly constitute him the first naval officer of the day as far as actual reputation, won by skill, courage, and hard fighting, goes. When David G. Farragut was but ten years old he was referred to as three pounds of uniform and seventy pounds of fight: because even then he had self-restraint as well as self-respect and he would fight when the proper time came. Although as a grown man he attained a stature of only five feet seven inches he continued to command respect wherever he went. Rear Admiral Schley, writing about him during the Civil War period, declared: His gait and step were those of a very young man, and in conversation he was an animated and interesting talker. His information and experience were general, and upon almost all subjects- professional, scientific or political-he was interesting and attractive. Like all great men he was affable and accessible. His manner was one of great mildness and self- poise. His ideas were clear and his methods of doing things were always decided. In any of the emergencies of battle, his towering genius was readiest and his cool self- possession was an inspiration to everybody. The wide difference that was apparent between this sprightly, kind, mild and pleasing gentleman, even when under a heavy load of responsibility, and his lion-like character and presence when battle was going on, was the contrast between sunshine and storm. His judgment of men was excellent, as the choice of officers with whom he surrounded himself indicated. The unvarying and complete success he met in everything he undertook in that great war was due largely to his strong personality, unerring purpose and dashing examplef'