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A distinguished American admiral and author; born May 15, 1820, in Ohio. He entered the United States Navy July 7, 1836. He was executive officer of the North Atlantic blockading squadron at the outbreak of the Civil War. From 1861 to 1865 he rendered signal service in the attacks on Port Royal, Fort Macallister, Fort Fisher, and both the ironclad attacks on Fort Sumter. On June 4, 1878, he was retired with the rank of rear-admiral. He was the designer of the Ammen life-raft and harbor defense ram. Among his works are: "The Atlantic Coast" (1883); "The Old Navy and the New"; "Navy in the Civil War" (1883). Died in 1898.