John Cassin (naval officer)

Commodore John Cassin (July 7, 1760 – March 24, 1822) was a United States Navy officer, who led the vital defense of Gosport Navy Yard during the War of 1812 and served as its Commandant.[1]

For the American ornithologist, see John Cassin. For the Australian rules footballer, see John Cassin (footballer).
John Cassin
Commodore John Cassin
Born(1760-07-07)July 7, 1760
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, British America
Died(1822-03-23)March 23, 1822
Charleston, South Carolina, US
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch
Years of service1777–1822
RankCommodore
Commands held
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War
War of 1812
Spouse(s)Ann Wilcox

Early life

Cassin, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 7, 1760, was the son of Joseph Cassin, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to Philadelphia in 1725.[2]

Military service

During the American Revolutionary War, Cassin served in the Army and took part in the Battle of Trenton.[3]

In 1803, Cassin was assigned as second officer at the Washington Navy Yard.

During the War of 1812 he led the United States Navy in the Delaware for the defense of Philadelphia. He also commanded the Norfolk Naval Shipyard from 10 August 1812 until 1 June 1821. After that he was the commanding officer of the Southern Naval station, Charleston, South Carolina.

Family

In the early 1780s Cassin married Ann Wilcox (1754–1821) of Philadelphia. They had four children: Elizabeth Ann Cassin (married Captain Joseph Tarbell), Joseph Cassin (1784–1821), Stephen Cassin, and John Cassin (b.1791, died young).[2] Joseph and Stephen were Navy officers.

Death

He died on March 24, 1822, in Charleston, South Carolina.[3]

References
  1. Sharp, John G.M.,Commodore John Cassin 1760 -1822, accessed 13 September 2021, http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/portsmouth/shipyard/sharptoc/biocassin.html
  2. Willcox, Joseph (1904). Historical sketches of some of the pioneer Catholics of Philadelphia and vicinity. pp. 45–47.
  3. Commodore John Cassin, U.S.N.” Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, vol. 22, no. 2, 1911, pp. 103–105. JSTOR 44208155
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