John Rodgers Goldsborough (1809-1877)

Civil War Union Naval Officer. Born in Washington, DC, he was appointed as a Midshipman in the United States Navy in 1824, and served in the Mediterranean Squadron and in the United States Navy Coastal Survey. During the Civil War he was advanced to Commander in 1861, and was given command of the screw steamer "USS Union". With that vessel he served on blockade duty off the Carolinas, where it captured 4 Confederate blockade runners, including the privateer "CSS York" (he also administered the colony of freed slaves on St. Simons Island, Georgia). Promoted to Captain in July 1862, he was assigned to command another blockader, the "USS Florida". Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, he was again successful in capturing a number of rebel blockade runners. In 1863 he was assigned to the USS Colorado in the Gulf Blockading Squadron, where he spent the remainder of the war. He was promoted to Commodore in 1870, and was placed on the retired list at that rank. He was the brother of Civil War Union Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough.

Bio by: RPD2