Henry A. Clemson (July 12, 1818 – December 8, 1846) was an officer in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

in the early 19th century. Clemson died at sea during the

Mexican American War Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

(1846) and was memorialized on the Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument and the naming of a naval destroyer, .

Early life

Clemson was born in

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

to Ann Maria (Oliver) and Captain Eli B. Clemson.

Naval service

He served on several ships throughout his short career. The following is his known service based on newspaper accounts. In 1837, he was

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest Military rank#Subordinate/student officer, rank in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Royal Cana ...

on the frigate with Commander John B. Nicholson. In 1840, he was a midshipman on the ship which was returning from the Pacific and Rio Janeiro with Captain J. M. McKeever. Clemson requested permission to sit for the midshipman exams in 1841 at the

Philadelphia Naval Asylum Naval Square is a gated community within the Graduate Hospital neighborhood of Philadelphia that served as the first United States Naval Academy from 1834 to 1845, when the Naval Academy formed in Annapolis. It continued as a retirement home f ...

. He passed the exams in 1842 which made him eligible for promotion to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

. He served on the in 1842 as

passed midshipman A passed midshipman, sometimes called as "midshipman, passed", is a term used historically in the 19th century to describe a midshipman who had passed the lieutenant's exam and was eligible for promotion to lieutenant as soon as there was a vac ...

. The ''Concord'' ran aground in November 1842 and then was abandoned. Clemson returned to the United States on the

barque A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing ship, sailing vessel with three or more mast (sailing), masts of which the fore mast, mainmast, and any additional masts are Square rig, rigged square, and only the aftmost mast (mizzen in three-maste ...

''Margaret Hugg'' along with surviving crew. By late 1843, he was serving as passed midshipman on the with Commander

Francis Gregory Francis Hoyt Gregory (October 9, 1789 – October 4, 1866) was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812 through to the American Civil War, Civil War, serving then as a Rear admiral (United States), rear admiral. Early life Gre ...

, Esq. In January 1844, Clemson served as passed midshipman on the with Commander Thomas W. Fennelon, arriving in

Haiti Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...

in June 1944 to protect the commercial interests of the United States. By late 1844, Clemson began his service as DO (duty officer) on the ship, , with Lt Commander Charles C. Turner. The ''Erie'' was taking supplies to the west coast of Africa. In May 1845, Clemson was serving as acting master on the with Commander Henry Bruce, when the ''Truxtun'' captured the slaver ship, ''

Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the ...

''. By March 1846, Clemson was serving as passed midshipman on the with Captain John H. Aulick. By late November 1846, Clemson was serving as acting master on the

brig A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square rig, square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the l ...

with Lt. Commander

Raphael Semmes Raphael Semmes ( ; September 27, 1809 – August 30, 1877) was an officer in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. He had served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1826 to 1860. During the American Civil War, Semmes was c ...

. The ''Somers'' had been dispatched for blockade duty in the Gulf of Mexico during the

Mexican-American War Mexican Americans are Americans of full or partial Mexican descent. In 2022, Mexican Americans comprised 11.2% of the US population and 58.9% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexican Americans were born in the United State ...

. Clemson, along with 38 other crew, drowned on December 8, 1846 when ''Somers'' capsized off Vera Cruz in a squall while chasing a blockade runner.

In memoriam

The Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument was erected at the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

in 1848 in the memory of Clemson and three other midshipmen who died at Vera Cruz. The monument has also been called the Clemson Monument since the side with Clemson's name faces the Academy Yard and is first seen by the midshipmen (students) on the way to classes. was named in his honor.

Citations

External links

Braque ''Margaret Hugg'' of Baltimore at Maryland Center for History and Culture

Historical Markers Database: Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument (photographs)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemson, Henry A. 1818 births 1846 deaths United States Navy personnel of the Mexican–American War Military personnel from New Jersey United States Navy officers