e in
the annals of the American Navy, was the son of a Scottish gardener,
and was born at Kirkbean, Kirkcudbrightshire. The details of his naval
career are so well known that there is little use of repeating them
here. James Craig (1735-1800), a Scot, Was appointed by Congress a
Commissioner of naval stores in 1776. He was owner of a number of
armed privateering vessels, took several prizes, and also aided in
fitting out several other vessels as privateers. The Nicholson family,
of Scottish parentage, was famous in the naval annals of the United
States for three generations, from the Revolution to the Civil War.
Alexander Murray (1755-1821), grandson of a Scot, took an active part
in the naval battles of the Revolution and commanded a squadron
against the Barbary pirates in 1820. John Rodgers (1771-1838), of
Scottish parentage, had a distinguished part in the war against
Tripoli, the government of which he compelled to sign a treaty
abolishing slavery of Christians and the levying of tribute on
European powers. In the war of 1812 he fired the first gun, June 23,
1812, at the British frigate "Belvidere." He was afterwards offered,
but declined, the office of Secretary of the Navy. George Campbell
Read (c. 1788-1862), Admiral, of Ulster Scot descent, took part in the
fight between the "Constitution" and "Guerriere" in 1812. Isaac
McKeever (1794-1856), Commodore and Commandant of the Navy Yard at
Portsmouth, Virginia, was of Scottish parentage. John Berrien
Montgomery (1794-1873), descended from William Montgomery of Bridgend,
Ayrshire (1701), served in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and while
too old for active service in the Civil War, was in charge of Boston
Navy Yard, then one of the most important supply stations of the navy.
Rear Admiral Andrew Bryson (1822-1892), of Scottish descent, took part
in Civil War, and retired after forty-three years' continuous service.
John McIntosh Kell (1823-1900), Executive Officer of the Confederate
Cruiser "Alabama" and author of "Cruise and Combats of the 'Alabama'"
was of Scottish origin. Rear Admiral Alexander Colden Rhind (1821-97),
who served in the Mexican and Civil Wars, was also of Scottish
descent. William Penn McCann (1830-1906), a descendant of John
McKeand, a native of Whithorn, Wigtownshire, who settled here before
the Revolution, was called "Father of the White Squadron" from his
having the warships painted white. Francis Munroe Ramsay (1835-1914),
Rear Admiral and C