Franklin Buchanan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin Buchanan
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Photographed in Confederate Navy uniform during the Civil War.
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| Born | 17 September 1800 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Died | 11 May 1874 (aged 73) Talbot County, Maryland |
| Burial |
Wye House family plot outside Easton, Maryland
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| Allegiance |  United States Confederate States |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy Confederate States Navy |
| Years of service | USN 1815–1861 CSN 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Captain (USN) Admiral (CSN) |
| Commands held | USS Vincennes USS Germantown USS Susquehanna James River Squadron CSS Virginia CSS Tennessee |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
| Other work | College president and businessman |
Franklin Buchanan (born September 17, 1800 – died May 11, 1874) was an important officer in the United States Navy. Later, he became the only full admiral in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. He is famous for commanding the powerful ironclad ship called CSS Virginia.
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Early Life and Family
Franklin Buchanan was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 13, 1800. He was one of many children born to George and Laetitia Buchanan. His family came from Scotland.
His grandfather on his father's side was a general in the Maryland Militia during the American Revolutionary War. His grandfather on his mother's side, Thomas McKean, was one of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Franklin Buchanan joined the U.S. Navy on January 28, 1815. He started as a midshipman, which is a junior officer rank. Over the years, he was promoted several times. He became a lieutenant in 1825, a commander in 1841, and a captain in 1855.
In 1835, he married Ann Catherine Lloyd in Annapolis, Maryland. They had nine children together, including eight daughters and one son.
Buchanan served in the U.S. Navy for 45 years. During this time, he traveled all over the world by sea. He commanded several ships, including the Vincennes and the Germantown in the 1840s. He also commanded the steam frigate Susquehanna during the Perry Expedition to Japan from 1852 to 1854.
In 1845, Buchanan suggested creating a naval school. His idea led to the founding of the United States Naval Academy that same year. He became the first Superintendent of the Naval School, serving from 1845 to 1847.
After this, he served in the Mexican–American War from 1847 to 1848. From 1859 to 1861, he was in charge of the Washington Navy Yard.
As the Civil War began, Buchanan resigned from the U.S. Navy on April 22, 1861. He thought his home state of Maryland would join the Confederacy. When Maryland did not secede, he tried to get his job back. However, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, refused to let him rejoin. So, in May 1861, he was no longer part of the U.S. Navy.
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On September 5, 1861, Franklin Buchanan joined the Confederate Navy. He was given the rank of captain. On February 24, 1862, he was put in charge of the Confederate Navy's James River Squadron. He chose the new ironclad ship, CSS Virginia, as his main ship.
Buchanan was the captain of CSS Virginia (which used to be USS Merrimack) during the Battle of Hampton Roads in Virginia. During the battle, he went to the top deck of Virginia and started firing at the shore. He was hit in the leg by a sharpshooter's bullet. He recovered from this injury.
Because of his injury, he could not command Virginia in its famous fight against the Union ship USS Monitor. That command went to Catesby ap Roger Jones. Even so, Buchanan had led the Confederate Navy to a big victory. It was the worst defeat the United States Navy would face until the Attack on Pearl Harbor many years later.
In August 1862, Buchanan was promoted to the rank of Full Admiral. He was the only officer in the Confederate Navy to reach this rank. He was sent to take command of Confederate naval forces in Mobile Bay, Alabama. He oversaw the building of another ironclad ship, CSS Tennessee.
Buchanan was on board CSS Tennessee during the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. In this battle, his ship fought against Rear Admiral David Glasgow Farragut's Union fleet. Buchanan was wounded again and taken prisoner. He was not released until February 1865. He was recovering from his wounds until the Civil War ended a few months later.
Later Life and Legacy
After the Civil War, Buchanan lived in Maryland and in Mobile, Alabama. In 1870, he moved back to Maryland. He passed away there on May 11, 1874. He is buried at the Wye House family plot near Easton, Maryland.
Three U.S. Navy destroyers have been named Buchanan to honor Admiral Franklin Buchanan: DD-131, DD-484, and DDG-14. The house where the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy lives is also named Buchanan House.
Images for kids
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Photographed in Confederate Navy uniform during the Civil War.
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Captain Franklin Buchanan, USN (around 1855-1861)
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Pennant of Admiral Buchanan used at Mobile Bay (a type of naval flag)
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Franklin Buchanan and Josiah Tattnall, another Flag Officer, CSN
See also
In Spanish: Franklin Buchanan para niños
