History of Key West, (Monroe County) Florida United States of America

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Biographies:

George Eugene Belknap, naval officer, was born at Newport, N.H., Jan. 22, 1832. In October, 1847, he entered the navy as midshipman from New Hampshire, and was attached to the brig Porpoise, in the African coast squadron. In 1850 he was transferred to the frigate Raritan of the Pacific squadron, and in 1856 to the East India squadron. He was promoted past-midshipman, 1853; master, 1855; lieutenant, Sept. 16, 1855; lieutenant commander, 1862, and commander, 1866. He took an active part in the capture and destruction of the barrier forts in the Canton river, China, in 1856. At the outbreak of the civil war he was conspicuous in the re-enforcement of Fort Pickens, April, 1861, and commanded the New Ironsides in the investment of the Confederate forts in Charleston harbor, 1862-'64. He commanded the Seneca in the North Atlantic squadron in 1864, and the ironclad Canonicus in the attack on Howlett House battery, Va., and in the first and second attacks on Fort Fisher, firing the last shot at the evacuation of Charleston, in 1865. He then, with the Canonicus, proceeded to Havana, Cuba, in search of the Confederate Stonewall. He commanded the Hartford (flagship) in the Asiatic squadron in 1867-'68. He was ordered in 1873 to the steamer Tuscarora to make deep-sea soundings in the North Pacific between the United States and Japan, to determine the feasibility of laying a submarine cable between the two countries. The methods he employed in obtaining soundings at great depths were original and highly successful, and for his valuable discoveries concerning the topography of the ocean-bed he received public recognition from eminent scientists in all parts of the world. At the time of the disturbance connected with the election of King Kalakaua in Honolulu, Commander Belknap was senior naval officer of the station and landed forces from the Tuscarora and the Portsmouth for the purpose of restoring and maintaining order. He was in command of the Pensacola navy yard until 1881, when he went to South American waters in the Alaska to protect the interests of the United States in the difficulty between Chili and Peru. He was commandant at various times of the navy yards at Norfolk, Pensacola and Mare Island, superintendent of the naval observatory, Washington, and president of the torpedo board. He was promoted commodore in 1885, and in 1889 was made rear-admiral in command of the Asiatic station with headquarters at Yokohama, Japan. He returned to the United States in 1892, and was placed on the retired list Jan. 22, 1894. He published "Deep Sea Soundings" and various magazine articles, and was honored by the Royal scientific societies of Europe and the principal geographical and scientific societies of America, for his investigations. He died at Key West, Fla., April 7, 1903.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Napoleon Bonaparte Harrison, naval officer, was born in Virginia, Feb. 19, 1823. He was warranted as midshipman in the U.S. navy, Sept. 26, 1838, and received regular promotion, reaching the grade of lieutenant, Jan. 6, 1853; commander, July 16, 1862, and captain, April 28, 1868. He served in the Pacific squadron, 1847-48, and in California, 1848-49; and was a volunteer in the expedition that rescued General Kearny's command. He was stationed at Washington observatory, 1850; was on coast survey duty, 1851-52; and served in the East Indian squadron, 1853. In the civil war he commanded the Cayuga flagship of Captain Bailey of the west gulf squadron. For his action in leading the fleet past Forts St. Philip and Jackson he was commended in the official report. He commanded the Mathaska of the James River flotilla, 1862; the Minnesota of the North Atlantic blockading squadron, 1862-63, and of the South Atlantic squadron, 1863-65; commanded Portsmouth navy yard, 1866-68, and was commandant of cadets at Annapolis. 1868-69, and of the Congress, 1869-70. He died at Key West, Fla., Oct. 27, 1870.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor