Frederick Vallette McNair

Background

Frederick V. McNair Sr. was born at Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia. He was the son of John and Mary (Yerkes) McNair, and a descendant of Scotch-Irish settlers in Pennsylvania.

Education

McNair entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland as an Acting Midshipman on September 21, 1853.

Career

On the nomination of his father, who was then representative from the fifth district of Pennsylvania, McNair was appointed midshipman September 21, 1853. After four years at the Naval Academy, he went to the China station in the Minnesota, 1857-59; was commissioned lieutenant April 18, 1861; and during the first months of the Civil War was in the Iroquois, West Indies.

In this ship, he subsequently served through the Mississippi River campaign under Farragut, taking part in the battle with the forts below New Orleans, April 1862, the engagement at Grand Gulf, and the running of the batteries at Vicksburg. At Natchez and Baton Rouge, he was the officer sent ashore to demand their surrender. After a brief leave in the summer of 1862, he served in the Juanita and the Seminole on the East Coast until August 1863, and then in the Pensacola on the Mississippi until April 1864.

Promoted at that time to lieutenant commander, he was for the remainder of the war executive in the Juanita, participating in both attacks on Fort Fisher, December 24-25, 1864, and January 13-15, 1865. In connection with a boat accident in March 1865, the commander of the Juanita, J. J. Almy, commended McNair as "a most excellent officer, possessing good judgment and . .. more than usual experience".

Coming through the war with a notable record for dependability and initiative, he was during his later career assigned to positions of unusual responsibility. In 1866-67, he was executive of the flagship Brooklyn, Brazil Squadron, and after a year as an instructor at the Naval Academy was executive of the flagship Franklin, European Squadron.

He was head of the department of seamanship at the Naval Academy, 1871-75, and again, after duty on the Asiatic station, at the academy as commandant of cadets, 1878-82. Promoted to captain in 1883, he was at the Mare Island Navy Yard in California, 1883-86; commander of the flagship Omaha, Asiatic station, 1887-90; superintendent of the Naval Observatory, 1890-94; and in command of the Asiatic Squadron, 1895-98, during which service he brought his ships to the efficiency in gunnery proved next year under Dewey at Manila.

Promotion to rear admiral came in July 1898, and for the next two years, he was at the Naval Academy as superintendent. Owing to failing health he resigned from this position in the spring of 1900 and was living in Washington, senior on the active list, at the time of his death from apoplexy.

Achievements

• McNair held stations in almost every part of the world and was with General Giuseppe Garibaldi in Italy. As commander of the "USS Kearsarge" and of the Asiatic Squadron from 1895 to 1898 (at which time he was relieved by Commander George Dewey), Commodore McNair drilled and instructed the gunners to a high degree of proficiency which played an important part in the success of Commander Dewey during the Spanish-American War (1898) in naval actions such as the the battle of Manila Bay. In 1943, the destroyer USS McNair (DD-679) was named in his honor.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Handbook for Naval Officers: An Aid to Examinations for Promotion

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

Connections

McNair was married on October 9, 1862, to Clara, daughter of James W. W. Warren of Philadelphia. His son, Frederick Vallette, also became a naval officer.

Father:

John McNair

Mother:

Mary (Yerkes) McNair

Wife:

Clara Warren McNair

22 May 1841 - 2 May 1922

Son:

Frederick Vallette McNair, Jr

13 March 1882 - 2 September 1962

References

• The records of living officers of the U.S. navy and Marine corps Compiled from official sources
• McNair, McNear & McNeir Genealogies