David Conner

1792 (age 64)

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States

At fourteen Conner found employment with his brother in a Philadelphia counting-house. Appointed midshipman, January 16, 1809, he took one or two merchant voyages and then served from August 1811 to May 1817, in the famous sloop Hornet. Upon the capture of the privateer Dolphin, July 9, 1812, Conner entered her as prize-master, but the ship was soon afterward retaken by the British. Exchanged and back in the Hornet, he was third lieutenant in her victory over the Peacock, February 24, 1813, being sent to the captured ship to rescue her crew and if possible keep her afloat, and narrowly escaping when she sank. He was first lieutenant in the victory over the Penguin, January 22, 1815, suffering a grapeshot wound through the hip which necessitated crutches for nearly two years. During 1817-1818 he was first lieutenant in the Ontario, which took formal possession of Oregon. After two years’ duty in Philadelphia he rounded the Horn in the little brig Dolphin, and had later commands in the West Indies and Mediterranean. Made captain on March 3, 1835, he was Navy Commissioner, 1841-1842, and then until May 30, 1843, head of the newly created Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair. From December 1843 to March 1847, he commanded American naval forces in the Gulf and Caribbean. The soul of courtesy, Commodore Conner was excellently suited for the diplomatic problems preceding hostilities with Mexico, and, though broken in health by the climate, he gave himself unreservedly to the greatly increased administrative tasks created by the war. A blockade was established, and in the summer and autumn of 1846 expeditions were undertaken against Alvarado, Tobasco, Tampico, and other Mexican ports. Hampered, however, by lack of light-draft steamers and other means, he operated with a caution which aroused great dissatisfaction ill the fleet and at home. What the navy could do was little, but the weak opposition doubtless justified bolder measures. The verdict of his subordinate, W. Parker, will probably stand, that Conner was “an educated man and a brave officer but would not take the responsibilities that his position imposed upon him”. Credit is due him for the admirably managed landing of Scott’s army, March 9, 1847, in which the navy put ashore over 10, 000 men in five hours, and for the plan of naval cooperation in the capture of Vera Cruz; but on March 21, the day before the final attack, he turned over the squadron to his former second-in-command, M. C. Perry, in accordance with orders brought by Perry from home. This change was explicable as routine procedure, for Conner was ill and had been at sea beyond the usual period, but it was prompted also by desire for more aggressive leadership. Upon the fall of Vera Cruz, March 29, Conner returned home, where he declined a position as bureau chief, and was made honorary member of the Cincinnati. After recuperation in Florida he was commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, October 1849 - June 1850. He was put on the Reserved List in 1855 and died shortly afterward at his home in Philadelphia.

David Conner

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naval officer

Background

David Conner was born in 1792 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the son of David Conner, an Irishman who came to the Wyoming Valley about 1750, and Abigail Rhodes, of longer-settled English stock.

Career

At fourteen Conner found employment with his brother in a Philadelphia counting-house. Appointed midshipman, January 16, 1809, he took one or two merchant voyages and then served from August 1811 to May 1817, in the famous sloop Hornet. Upon the capture of the privateer Dolphin, July 9, 1812, Conner entered her as prize-master, but the ship was soon afterward retaken by the British. Exchanged and back in the Hornet, he was third lieutenant in her victory over the Peacock, February 24, 1813, being sent to the captured ship to rescue her crew and if possible keep her afloat, and narrowly escaping when she sank. He was first lieutenant in the victory over the Penguin, January 22, 1815, suffering a grapeshot wound through the hip which necessitated crutches for nearly two years. During 1817-1818 he was first lieutenant in the Ontario, which took formal possession of Oregon.

After two years’ duty in Philadelphia he rounded the Horn in the little brig Dolphin, and had later commands in the West Indies and Mediterranean. Made captain on March 3, 1835, he was Navy Commissioner, 1841-1842, and then until May 30, 1843, head of the newly created Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair. From December 1843 to March 1847, he commanded American naval forces in the Gulf and Caribbean.

The soul of courtesy, Commodore Conner was excellently suited for the diplomatic problems preceding hostilities with Mexico, and, though broken in health by the climate, he gave himself unreservedly to the greatly increased administrative tasks created by the war. A blockade was established, and in the summer and autumn of 1846 expeditions were undertaken against Alvarado, Tobasco, Tampico, and other Mexican ports. Hampered, however, by lack of light-draft steamers and other means, he operated with a caution which aroused great dissatisfaction ill the fleet and at home. What the navy could do was little, but the weak opposition doubtless justified bolder measures. The verdict of his subordinate, W. Parker, will probably stand, that Conner was “an educated man and a brave officer but would not take the responsibilities that his position imposed upon him”. Credit is due him for the admirably managed landing of Scott’s army, March 9, 1847, in which the navy put ashore over 10, 000 men in five hours, and for the plan of naval cooperation in the capture of Vera Cruz; but on March 21, the day before the final attack, he turned over the squadron to his former second-in-command, M. C. Perry, in accordance with orders brought by Perry from home. This change was explicable as routine procedure, for Conner was ill and had been at sea beyond the usual period, but it was prompted also by desire for more aggressive leadership.

Upon the fall of Vera Cruz, March 29, Conner returned home, where he declined a position as bureau chief, and was made honorary member of the Cincinnati. After recuperation in Florida he was commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, October 1849 - June 1850. He was put on the Reserved List in 1855 and died shortly afterward at his home in Philadelphia.

Achievements

David Conner was recognized for his service in the United States Navy during the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He was in command of the brig "Dolphin" and participated in the capture of the "HMS Peacock", and the capture of the sloop "HMS Penguin. His conduct in both actions won particular commendation from his commanders, Lawrence and Biddle, and he was awarded two Congressional Medals. Two destroyers of the Navy have been named USS Conner in his honor.

Personality

Conner was described as slightly above medium height, erect and active, with a presence commanding respect.

Connections

In 1828 Conner married the daughter of the celebrated Philadelphia surgeon Philip Syng Physick. They had two sons.

Father:: David Conner
Mother:: Abigail Rhodes

References

Matthew Calbraith Perry: A Typical American Naval Officer

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