Charles Henry Poor

Background

He was born on June 9, 1808 at Cambridge, Massachussets, United States, the son of Moses and Charlotte (White) Poor, and a descendant in the sixth generation of John Poore.

Education

There is no information about his education.

Career

He was appointed midshipman on March 1, 1825, made his first cruise in the John Adams, and was later in the Java in the Mediterranean. After four more years at sea in the Delaware of the Mediterranean Squadron and in the Lexington and the Boxer of the Brazil Squadron, he was made lieutenant on December 31, 1835.

Up to the time of his promotion to the rank of commander on September 14, 1855, he was chiefly on shore duty or on leave, making only two long cruises, in the Independence, Brazil Squadron, 1840-43, and in the St. Lawrence, Pacific Squadron, 1852-55. He was at the Norfolk navy yard, 1856-58, and in 1860-61 commanded the St. Louis of the Home Squadron, which, from February 1861 until after the opening of the Civil War, was among the ships stationed off Pensacola for the support of Fort Pickens. He commanded the landing party of soldiers, marines, and sailors sent ashore on April 12 to reinforce the garrison.

Shifted on April 18 to command the steam-sloop Brooklyn, he was from May 26 through June on blockade duty at the mouth of the Mississippi, where he incurred departmental disfavor by allowing the Confederate cruiser Sumter to escape, June 30, after a chase of three and a half hours. He was tried by court martial the following November and exonerated. Subsequently he was assigned to special ordnance work, in which duty he was at Hampton Roads during the Monitor-Merrimac action on March 8 and 9, 1862, and in the Roanoke when she passed under the fire of the batteries at Sewall's Point to assist the Congress and Cumberland. In the same month he had command of the Illinois, a chartered steamer intended for ramming the Merrimac, but had no opportunity to test her powers. Through the summer of 1862 he was stationed at Fort Monroe as ordnance officer for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

He was promoted to the rank of captain on July 16, 1862, and to commodore the following January. This latter advancement, however, was not altogether to Secretary Welles's liking, for he remarked upon it as "the most objectionable" of the promotions made at that time. The following summer he was given the not especially desirable command of the Saranac, Pacific Squadron, where he remained till the end of the war. His main activities here were to protect commerce.

After the war he commanded the naval station at Mound City, Illinois, for two years, was made rear admiral on September 20, 1868, was head of the Washington navy yard, from January to August 1869, and then commanded the North Atlantic Squadron until his retirement in the summer of 1870.

After his retirement he made his home in Washington. Poor died in Washington after an illness of seven months.

Achievements

• Charles Henry Poor served nearly 30 years at sea, sucessfully commanded the Brooklyn, Roanoke, St. Louis, and Saranac during the Civil War. He was promoted to rear admiral and commanded the North Atlantic Squadron with distinction.

Personality

Of his character his contemporaries speak in warm terms. Though he was a strict disciplinarian, his even temper and unfailing courtesy won the devotion of his subordinates.

Connections

He was married at Norfolk, Virginia, on May 13, 1835, to Mattie Lindsay Starke, daughter of Dr. Robert Boling Starke, a former naval surgeon. There were eight children born to them, two sons and six daughters.

Father:

Moses Poor

Mother:

Charlotte (White) Poor

Spouse:

Mattie Lindsay Starke

father-in-law:

Robert Boling Starke

ancestor:

John Poore