United States Navy Admiral. He served 45 years in the United States Navy as a sailor, explorer and surveyor. He entered the Navy in 1819 and commanded the "USS Weazel" in action against West Indies Pirates in the late 1820s. From 1838 to 1842, he participated in the Wilkes Expedition in the Pacific, commanding the "USS Porpoise". Promoted to commander in 1849, he began the definitive survey of the San Francisco Bay region. His location for a dockyard for the Navy's Pacific station became the Mare Island Navy Yard. In 1853, he took command of the North Pacific Exploring and Survey Expedition, also known as the Rodgers-Ringgold Expedition. For the next several years, he was in Washington, DC, working on the North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition charts, which were later used by the United States Navy in World War II. He returned to the fleet with the rank of Captain during the Civil War and was in command of the "USS Sabine", and effected the rescue of a battalion of 400 United States Marines from Maryland, whose transport steamer "Governor", was sinking during a severe storm at Port Royal, South Carolina. In February 1862, he was in command of the search and rescue for the ship "USS Vermont" that was lost in a storm. For these rescues, Ringgold received commendations from the Maryland Legislature and the United States Congress, along with a gold medal from the Life Saving Benevolent Association. Promoted to Commodore, he was sent on patrol to search for Confederate raiders in the vicinity of Bermuda and then the New England coast. After the war, he was retired a Rear Admiral. His father was US Congressman Samuel Ringgold. He is buried next to his brother, Major Samuel Ringgold, United States Army Mexican-War hero.
United States Navy Admiral. He served 45 years in the United States Navy as a sailor, explorer and surveyor. He entered the Navy in 1819 and commanded the "USS Weazel" in action against West Indies Pirates in the late 1820s. From 1838 to 1842, he participated in the Wilkes Expedition in the Pacific, commanding the "USS Porpoise". Promoted to commander in 1849, he began the definitive survey of the San Francisco Bay region. His location for a dockyard for the Navy's Pacific station became the Mare Island Navy Yard. In 1853, he took command of the North Pacific Exploring and Survey Expedition, also known as the Rodgers-Ringgold Expedition. For the next several years, he was in Washington, DC, working on the North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition charts, which were later used by the United States Navy in World War II. He returned to the fleet with the rank of Captain during the Civil War and was in command of the "USS Sabine", and effected the rescue of a battalion of 400 United States Marines from Maryland, whose transport steamer "Governor", was sinking during a severe storm at Port Royal, South Carolina. In February 1862, he was in command of the search and rescue for the ship "USS Vermont" that was lost in a storm. For these rescues, Ringgold received commendations from the Maryland Legislature and the United States Congress, along with a gold medal from the Life Saving Benevolent Association. Promoted to Commodore, he was sent on patrol to search for Confederate raiders in the vicinity of Bermuda and then the New England coast. After the war, he was retired a Rear Admiral. His father was US Congressman Samuel Ringgold. He is buried next to his brother, Major Samuel Ringgold, United States Army Mexican-War hero.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
Rear Admiral U.S.N.
Died April 29th 1867
Family Members
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