Napoleon B. Harrison
Napoleon Bonaparte Harrison was an officer of the United States Navy who served during the Mexican–American and Civil War.Biography
Harrison was born in Martinsburg, Virginia, and was appointed a midshipman on February 26, 1838, and received promotion to passed midshipman on May 20, 1844.
Serving in California during the Mexican War in, he was a volunteer in the expedition to rescue General Philip Kearny's command, and spent five days en route from San Francisco to Monterey in a small boat carrying despatches.
He was promoted to master on April 2, 1852, and then to lieutenant on January 6, 1853.
From 1857 to 1859, he served as a division officer aboard USS Cumberland during the sloop-of-war's tour as flagship of the U.S. Navy's Africa Squadron.
In April 1862, Harrison commanded the gunboat at the passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, leading the battle line past the forts and up the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Harrison was promoted to commander on July 16, 1862. He later commanded the gunboat in the James River Flotilla, the frigate in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and various ships in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. After the fall of Charleston in 1865, Harrison served at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine.
Following the Civil War, he taught at the Naval Academy. He was promoted to captain on April 28, 1868, and served as Commandant of Midshipmen in 1868–1870, before taking command of his last ship, the sloop.
Captain Harrison died October 27, 1870 at Key West, Florida.Nameksake
In 1943, the destroyer was named in his honor.
