Background
John Berrien Montgomery was born on November 17, 1794, at Allentown, New Jersey. He was the son of Dr. Thomas and Mary (Berrien) Montgomery, and a descendant of William Morse Montgomery who was in East Jersey in 1702.
John Berrien Montgomery was born on November 17, 1794, at Allentown, New Jersey. He was the son of Dr. Thomas and Mary (Berrien) Montgomery, and a descendant of William Morse Montgomery who was in East Jersey in 1702.
Montgomery entered the navy as midshipman June 4, 1812, leaving home for war service along with his elder brother Alexander, a surgeon under Porter, and his younger brother Nathaniel Lawrence, who lost an arm in the President-Belvidera action and was made lieutenant at sixteen. John Montgomery served in the Hamilton, Madison, and General Pike on Lake Ontario, then joined Perry on Lake Erie in August 1813 and fought creditably in the Niagara at the Battle of Lake Erie, receiving with other officers a sword and thanks from Congress. In the subsequent Perry-Elliott controversy, Montgomery, like most Niagara men, favored his ship-commander Elliott, and he served frequently under him later. In the Niagara, he took part in the blockade and attack on Mackinac, August 4, 1814. He was in the Ontario of Decatur's squadron against Algiers; on the African coast, 1818-20, after promotion to lieutenant; and in the Erie on a long Mediterranean cruise, 1821-26. In 1830, he was executive of the Peacock, and subsequently commanded the Erie on the coast of Mexico. After recruiting duty in Philadelphia and New York, 1833-35, he was executive under Elliott in the Constitution when she brought the American minister Livingston from France in 1835. He then returned to receiving-ship and recruiting service, with promotion to commander, 1839. In command of the Portsmouth of Sloat's squadron on the West Coast during the Mexican War, he raised the American flag at San Francisco and nearby settlements, July 9, 1846. The name Montgomery Street, San Francisco, commemorates the occupation. The Portsmouth also blockaded Mazatlan, March-April 1847, occupied several Lower California ports, and took part in the bombardment of Guaymas, October 1847.
After service in the Washington Navy Yard, 1849-51, Montgomery was made captain, January 6, 1853, and in the Roanoke brought back 250 of Walker's filibusters from Aspinwall in 1857. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was commanding the Pacific Squadron, which included four steam and two sailing ships, with the Lancaster as flagship. When news of war reached the Lancaster at Panama, Montgomery forestalled possible disturbances by requesting all officers to take the oath of allegiance, only one declining. In December 1861, he retired and went home, being promoted to commodore (retired) July 16, 1862. Thereafter he was still actively occupied as commandant of the Charlestown (Massachusetts) Navy Yard, May 1862 December 1863, and then of the Washington yard till October 1865, carrying out efficiently the important services of repair, supply, and training of men. In July 1866, he was made rear admiral (retired), and for two years subsequently had a charge at Sacketts Harbor. He was put on waiting orders, September 1, 1869. His death occurred at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and he was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington.
Montgomery was of a modest nature, an eminently just man who made the Scriptures his daily study. No quarrels or serious mishaps marred his service career.
In August 1820, Montgomery had married Mary, daughter of William Henry of New York. They had five sons and four daughters. Two sons were with him on this cruise, one an acting master and the other captain's clerk. Both mysteriously disappeared in November 1846 while in charge of a boat party taking money from the ships off San Francisco to forces ashore, circumstances indicating mutiny and the murder of the two youths.