History of Jackson, (East Feliciana Parish) Louisiana United States of America

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Bancroft Gherardi, naval officer, was born in Jackson, La., Nov. 10, 1832. He was appointed midshipman from Massachusetts June 29, 1846, and after four years' service on the Ohio with the Pacific squadron, he served on the Saranac of the home Squadron and at the U.S. naval academy where he was graduated June 8, 1852, passed midshipman. He cruised in the Mediterranean and was promoted master and lieutenant in 1855. He was detailed as navigating officer on board the Niagara, while that vessel was engaged in laying the first submarine cable in 1858. In 1861 he was attached to the Pacific squadron on the Lancaster. He was promoted lieutenant commander July 16, 1862, and while attached to the South Atlantic blockading squadron, saw his first battle in the assault and capture of Fort Macon, N.C., in 1862. He was transferred to the West Gulf blockading squadron and commanded the Chocura in 1863. In 1864 he commanded the steamer Port Royal in the battle of Mobile Bay, and drew the fire of the Confederate gun boats Morgan, Gaines and Selma from the Federal fleet by giving them chase and keeping them on the defensive until the victory was gained by Farragut. He commanded the Pequot of the North Atlantic squadron until the close of the war. He was made commander in July, 1866, attached to the Pacific squadron, and was afterward stationed at the Philadelphia navy yard, 1868-70. In 1874 the was made captain and returned to the Pacific squadron. He commanded the flagship of the Mediterranean squadron, 1877-80; was made commodore in 1884, and was on duty on the examining board and as governor of the Naval home, 1884-86. In 1886 he was placed in command of the Brooklyn navy yard. He reached the rank of rear-admiral, Aug. 24, 1887, and in 1889 he was commander of the North Atlantic squadron, and sailed to Haiti where the presence of the American fleet, while maintaining a strict neutrality, enabled Hyppolite to establish the republic and restore peace. In 1892 Rear-Admiral Gherardi led a squadron composed of the San Francisco, the Charleston, the Baltimore, the Boston, and the Yorktown, then the flower of the American navy, on a cruise down the Pacific coast and up the Atlantic, visiting all the important ports, bearing an invitation from the President to the presidents of the respective Central and South American republics to take part in the Columbian international naval parade in New York harbor, April 26-27, 1893. On his arrival at Hampton Roads, Va., he united with the fleets of Rear-Admirals Walker and Benham in the grand international naval review, of which he was in chief command. In June, 1893, he was, at his own request, placed in command of the Brooklyn navy yard. He was retired from active service, Nov. 10, 1894, after reaching the age of sixty-two years. His naval service of forty eight years in eluded twenty-six years at sea, sixteen on shore, and six on leave. He was elected commander in chief of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in 1896, at the annual meeting in Philadelphia.

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

History of Jackson, (East Feliciana Parish) Louisiana

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