David Farragut: One of the Youngest Midshipman in American Naval History

David Farragut was one of the most well-known Naval Commanders of the Civil War, but his stature was established at a surprisingly early age.

John Forsyth and La Amistad

  John Forsyth was born in 1780 and graduated from the College of New Jersey (later renamed Princeton University) in 1799. From 1813 to 1834, Forsyth served as a U.S. congressman, senator, and governor from Georgia. On July 1, 1834, Andrew Jackson appointed him as Secretary of State. He remained in that position during the Martin…

February 14, 1814: The USS Constitution vs. the HMS Pictou

In March 1794, the USS Constitution became one of the first naval ships commissioned by the United States government. Also known as “Old Ironsides”, its construction was a reactionary measure to the Barbary Pirate attacks on U.S. vessels near North Africa. The ship was named by President George Washington. Construction on the ship was not…