Commodore James Armstrong was a lifelong United States Naval Officer. His last command was command at the Navy Yard at Pensacola when Florida seceded from the Union in 1861. He turned the facility over to state forces without resistance when it was obvious his Union forces were outnumbered. Earlier in his career he distinguished himself as commander of the Navy's East India Squadron during the so-called "Arrow War" also known as the Second Opium War in China in 1857. Although the conflict was primarily between France, Britain and China, Chinese forces fired on American vessels in a swelling of anti-foreign fervor. Armstrong oversaw the occupation and destruction of the Canton "barrier forts" after which the Chinese guaranteed American neutrality. He joined the Navy as midshipman from Kentucky in 1809, and served on the sloop-of-war Frolic, when it was captured by the British in 1814. He spent time as a prisoner of war of the British on one of their hulk prison ships in England under horrific conditions. In 1866 he was pro-rated commodore.
Commodore James Armstrong was a lifelong United States Naval Officer. His last command was command at the Navy Yard at Pensacola when Florida seceded from the Union in 1861. He turned the facility over to state forces without resistance when it was obvious his Union forces were outnumbered. Earlier in his career he distinguished himself as commander of the Navy's East India Squadron during the so-called "Arrow War" also known as the Second Opium War in China in 1857. Although the conflict was primarily between France, Britain and China, Chinese forces fired on American vessels in a swelling of anti-foreign fervor. Armstrong oversaw the occupation and destruction of the Canton "barrier forts" after which the Chinese guaranteed American neutrality. He joined the Navy as midshipman from Kentucky in 1809, and served on the sloop-of-war Frolic, when it was captured by the British in 1814. He spent time as a prisoner of war of the British on one of their hulk prison ships in England under horrific conditions. In 1866 he was pro-rated commodore.
Bio by: Bob on Gallows Hill
Family Members
Advertisement
