Stephen Clegg Rowan (December 25. 1808 – March 31, 1890) was a vice admiral in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

, who served during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

and the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

Early life and career

Born in

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, Ireland, Rowan came to the United States at the age of 10 and lived in

Piqua, Ohio Piqua ( ) is a city in Miami County, southwest Ohio, United States, 27 miles north of Dayton. The population was 20,522 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was founded as the village of Washington in ...

. Rowan was a graduate of

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio. The university was founded in 1809, making it the second-oldest university in Ohio (behind Ohio University, founded in 1804) and the ...

and was appointed as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy on February 1, 1826, at the age of 17. Later, he took an active role in the

, serving as executive officer of the sloop during the capture of Monterey, California on July 7, 1846, and in the occupation of both

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and Los Angeles. In January 1847 he led a provisional battalion, with the nominal rank of major, of seven companies of naval infantry (along with a company of artillery and a company of sappers and miners) for the recapture of Los Angeles.

Civil War service

Captain of the steam sloop at the outbreak of the

, he attempted to relieve

Fort Sumter Fort Sumter is a sea fort built on an artificial island protecting Charleston, South Carolina from naval invasion. Its origin dates to the War of 1812 when the British invaded Washington by sea. It was still incomplete in 1861 when the Battle ...

and to burn the

Norfolk Navy Yard The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships. It is the oldest and largest industrial facility tha ...

. In the fall of 1861, he assisted in the capture of the forts at

Hatteras Inlet Hatteras Inlet is an estuary in North Carolina, located along the Outer Banks, separating Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pamlico Sound. Hatteras Inlet is located entirely within Hyde County. History ...

; then, taking command of a flotilla in the

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

sounds, he cooperated in the capture of Roanoke Island in February 1862. Promoted simultaneously to captain and commodore for gallantry, he then supported the capture of

Elizabeth City Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 18,629. Elizabeth City is the county seat and largest city of Pasquotank County. It is the cultural, economic and educ ...

, Edenton, and

New Bern New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...

. During the summer of 1863, he commanded the

broadside ironclad An ironclad is a steam-propelled warship protected by iron or steel armor plates, constructed from 1859 to the early 1890s. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. Th ...

on blockade duty off Charleston, South Carolina and the following August assumed command of Federal forces in the North Carolina sounds. During this time the rebel

semi-submersible Semi-submersible may refer to a self-propelled vessel, such as: * Heavy-lift ship, which partially submerge to allow their cargo (another ship) to float into place for transport *Narco-submarine, some of which remained partially on the surface * ...

CSS ''David'' attacked the ''New Ironsides'' with a

spar torpedo A spar torpedo is a weapon consisting of a bomb placed at the end of a long pole, or spar, and attached to a boat. The weapon is used by running the end of the spar into the enemy ship. Spar torpedoes were often equipped with a barbed spear at ...

. In the ensuing explosion, one man was killed and a large hole was torn into the ironclad but she continued her blockading duties.

Post Civil War service

Commissioned rear admiral on July 25, 1866, Rowan served as commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard until 1867, when he assumed command of the

Asiatic Squadron The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century. It was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded. Vessels of the squadron were primarily inv ...

. Returning in 1870, he was appointed vice admiral, following the death of Admiral

David Farragut David Glasgow Farragut (; also spelled Glascoe; July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. F ...

and the promotion of Vice Admiral David Dixon Porter in August of that year. In December 1870 Rowan reached the mandatory retirement age of 62 but, like admirals Farragut and Porter before him, he was allowed to remain on active duty. Rowan served as commandant of the New York Navy Yard from 1872 to 1876, as governor of the Naval Asylum at

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, in 1881, and as superintendent of the

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, Washington, D.C., from 1882 until his retirement in 1889. Rowan had a 63-year career, which was one of the longest in the history of the United States Navy. In 1882 Admiral Rowan was elected as a First Class Companion of the District of Columbia Commander of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

(MOLLUS). He was assigned MOLLUS insignia number 2510. Rowan's son, Hamilton Rowan, an officer in the U.S. Army, was elected as a Second Class Companion of MOLLUS and became a First Class Companion upon his father's death. Rowan died in Washington, D.C. on March 31, 1890. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Dates of rank

*Midshipman – February 1, 1826 *Passed midshipman – April 28, 1832 *Lieutenant – March 8, 1837 *Commander – September 14, 1855 *Captain and commodore – July 16, 1862 *Rear admiral – July 25, 1866 *Vice admiral – August 15, 1870 *Retired list – February 26, 1889

Namesakes

* Four United States Navy ships have been named for him. * Rowan Hall at

is named in his memory. * A public elementary school in San Diego, California, is named Stephen Rowan Elementary. * A small park in the Shawnee neighborhood of Piqua, Rowan's hometown, containing a memorial cannon, is named Rowan Park.

References

External links

Biography of Vice Admiral Stephen C. Rowan, USN, (1808–1890)

Vice Admiral Stephen Clegg Rowan Historical Marker
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowan, Stephen Clegg 1808 births 1890 deaths Irish sailors in the United States Navy Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923) United States Navy admirals Union Navy admirals People of Ohio in the American Civil War People from Piqua, Ohio Miami University alumni Burials at Oak Hill Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)