United States Naval Officer. He joined the United States Navy as a Midshipman in September 1840, serving on the frigates United States and Congress for five years. Graduating from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1846, he took part in Mexican War combat operations as an officer of the steamer "USS Vixen". He was an instructor at the Naval Academy during the later 1840s and engaged in survey work in Central and South America in the 1850‘s. As Lieutenant he was Commanding Officer of the steamer "USS Water Witch" when she was fired upon by a Paraguayan fort in 1855. From 1858 to 1860, he served as gunnery officer on the "USS Plymouth" and sloops "USS Brooklyn" and "USS Saratoga". During the Civil War, he commanded the steamer "USS Philadelphia" on the Potomac River. He was an officer on the frigate "USS Roanoke", then commanded the steamer "USS Underwriter" in operations on the North Carolina Sounds in 1861. In May 1862, he served on the ironclad "USS Monitor" during her historic action with the Confederate "CSS Virginia" and as her commander in the action with Fort Darling. Promoted Commander in July 1862, he was employed on technical ordnance duties for the rest of the war. Commissioned Captain in July 1870, he became Navy Chief of the bureau of ordinance in April, 1873. He was made Commodore of the Navy on February 28, 1878 and from 1881, until his death he had special duty in Europe. The Destroyer USS Jeffers (DD-621) was named in his honor in 1942.
United States Naval Officer. He joined the United States Navy as a Midshipman in September 1840, serving on the frigates United States and Congress for five years. Graduating from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1846, he took part in Mexican War combat operations as an officer of the steamer "USS Vixen". He was an instructor at the Naval Academy during the later 1840s and engaged in survey work in Central and South America in the 1850‘s. As Lieutenant he was Commanding Officer of the steamer "USS Water Witch" when she was fired upon by a Paraguayan fort in 1855. From 1858 to 1860, he served as gunnery officer on the "USS Plymouth" and sloops "USS Brooklyn" and "USS Saratoga". During the Civil War, he commanded the steamer "USS Philadelphia" on the Potomac River. He was an officer on the frigate "USS Roanoke", then commanded the steamer "USS Underwriter" in operations on the North Carolina Sounds in 1861. In May 1862, he served on the ironclad "USS Monitor" during her historic action with the Confederate "CSS Virginia" and as her commander in the action with Fort Darling. Promoted Commander in July 1862, he was employed on technical ordnance duties for the rest of the war. Commissioned Captain in July 1870, he became Navy Chief of the bureau of ordinance in April, 1873. He was made Commodore of the Navy on February 28, 1878 and from 1881, until his death he had special duty in Europe. The Destroyer USS Jeffers (DD-621) was named in his honor in 1942.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
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See more Jeffers memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates Index, 1803-1915
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Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600-1889
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Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current
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New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Records, 1670-1965
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