US Navy Rear Admiral. Baldwin was appointed to the Navy from New York on April 24, 1839, and was assigned to the frigate Brandywine, then on the Mediterranean station. In the next few years he served aboard the sloops Vandalia and Fairfield. In 1844 he was ordered to Philadelphia for training at the Naval school and on July 2, 1845 was promoted to passed midshipman. He next served aboard the frigate Constitution of the Pacific squadron from 1845 to 1849. When the war with Mexico began he was engaged in operations about Mazatlan, which at that time was in possession of United States forces. During these operations he was involved in two engagements with the enemy. In late 1853 he was promoted to Lieutenant, and the following year elected to retire from the service. When the Civil War began he re-enlisted as a Lieutenant and was given the command of the steamer Clifton. While commander of the steamer he participated in the captured of New Orleans and the first attack on Vicksburg. In late 1862 he was promoted to Commander and was given command of the steamer Vanderbilt. From 1863 to 1864 he was engaged in special service, and from 1864 to 1867 was on ordnance duty at the Mare Island Navy Yard in California. He became Fleet Captain of the Northern Pacific squadron serving in that capacity from 1868 to 1869. He was commissioned as Captain in 1869, Inspector of Ordnance at Mare Island from 1860 to 1871 and commanded the Colorado of the Asiatic squadron from 1871 to 1873 and the Naval Rendezvous, San Francisco in 1873. He was commissioned as Commodore August 8, 1876, and was a member of the Board of Examiners from 1876 to 1878. He was elevated to the two star rank of Rear Admiral in 1883, and was assigned to the command of the European squadron, later renamed the North Atlantic Fleet. At the time of his promotion to Rear Admiral it was the highest rank in the Navy. Although the position of Vice Admiral was approved by Congress in 1864 there were only two appointed, Porter and Farragut and after they died another Vice Admiral was not approved until 1915. After forty five years in the service he retired in 1884.
US Navy Rear Admiral. Baldwin was appointed to the Navy from New York on April 24, 1839, and was assigned to the frigate Brandywine, then on the Mediterranean station. In the next few years he served aboard the sloops Vandalia and Fairfield. In 1844 he was ordered to Philadelphia for training at the Naval school and on July 2, 1845 was promoted to passed midshipman. He next served aboard the frigate Constitution of the Pacific squadron from 1845 to 1849. When the war with Mexico began he was engaged in operations about Mazatlan, which at that time was in possession of United States forces. During these operations he was involved in two engagements with the enemy. In late 1853 he was promoted to Lieutenant, and the following year elected to retire from the service. When the Civil War began he re-enlisted as a Lieutenant and was given the command of the steamer Clifton. While commander of the steamer he participated in the captured of New Orleans and the first attack on Vicksburg. In late 1862 he was promoted to Commander and was given command of the steamer Vanderbilt. From 1863 to 1864 he was engaged in special service, and from 1864 to 1867 was on ordnance duty at the Mare Island Navy Yard in California. He became Fleet Captain of the Northern Pacific squadron serving in that capacity from 1868 to 1869. He was commissioned as Captain in 1869, Inspector of Ordnance at Mare Island from 1860 to 1871 and commanded the Colorado of the Asiatic squadron from 1871 to 1873 and the Naval Rendezvous, San Francisco in 1873. He was commissioned as Commodore August 8, 1876, and was a member of the Board of Examiners from 1876 to 1878. He was elevated to the two star rank of Rear Admiral in 1883, and was assigned to the command of the European squadron, later renamed the North Atlantic Fleet. At the time of his promotion to Rear Admiral it was the highest rank in the Navy. Although the position of Vice Admiral was approved by Congress in 1864 there were only two appointed, Porter and Farragut and after they died another Vice Admiral was not approved until 1915. After forty five years in the service he retired in 1884.
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