He was born on July 26, 1781 near Goshen, New York, United States. He was the posthumous son of Capt. John Sloat, an officer of the Revolution, who was accidentally killed by a sentinel. His father's family was of Dutch stock; that of his mother, Ruth (Drake) Sloat, English.
He attended the country schools of New York.
Appointed a midshipman in the navy, February 12, 1800, he served until the end of the naval war with France, chiefly in the West Indies on board the President, flagship of Commodore Thomas Truxtun.
Discharged from the navy under the peace establishment of 1801, he entered the merchant service as commander of his own vessel and made several voyages, losing heavily on his ventures. On January 10, 1812, he returned to the navy with the rank of master and went to sea on board the frigate United States under the younger Stephen Decatur, participating in that ship's successful fight with the Macedonian. This cruise ended his active service in the War of 1812, however, for on the arrival of his ship at New London she was blockaded there and kept in port until the end of the war.
On July 24, 1813, he was commissioned lieutenant. Obtaining a furlough, he made a voyage to France in 1815 as master of the schooner Transit. It is said that there he was a party to a plan that miscarried to convey Napoleon and his suite to the United States.
Returning to the navy in 1816, he was on duty alternately at the New York navy yard and the Portsmouth navy yard until 1820-21. In 1821-22 he served in the Pacific on board the Franklin, and in 1822-23 in South American waters on board the Congress.
At the age of forty-two he received his first naval command, the schooner Grampus, and in 1824-25 he cruised among the Windward Islands, engaged in the hazardous work of suppressing piracy. On March 21, 1826, he was promoted master-commandant and on March 6, 1837, captain, taking rank from February 9.
A period of service at the New York naval rendezvous was interrupted in 1828-31 by a tour of duty in the Pacific as commander of the St. Louis. At Callao during a revolution in Peru he gave refuge to several leading Peruvian officials. In 1840-44 he was commandant of the Portsmouth navy yard. On August 27, 1844, he was chosen commander of the Pacific Squadron, a position of much responsibility by reason of the uncertain relations between the United States and Mexico. He arrived at Mazatlán, Mexico, on November 18, 1845, and remained there seven and a half months with his flagship Savannah.
In February 1846, he received from George Bancroft, secretary of the navy, secret and confidential orders, dated June 24, 1845. These were decidedly unwarlike. The ships of the squadron were to be assiduously careful to avoid any act that might be construed as an act of aggression. In case of a declaration of war by Mexico, however, he was to occupy San Francisco and blockade or occupy such other ports as his force might permit.
Receiving word on June 7 that the Mexicans had invaded Texas and had attacked the American forces there, he sailed for California the next day on board the Savannah, convinced that the hostilities of the Mexicans would justify commencing offensive operations on the west coast. He arrived at Monterey on July 2; five days later, after consulting with the American consul, who counseled the postponing of action, and after examining the defenses of the town and preparing various official documents, he landed a detachment of seamen and marines under Capt. William Mervine, who hoisted the American flag over the custom-house and read a proclamation taking possession of California and extending over it the laws of the United States.
Sloat has been severely criticized for delaying action for five days, but it has also been held that in annexing California he exceeded his orders. On July 6 he sent one of his officers to take possession of San Francisco; a few days later all California north of Santa Barbara was in the possession of the Americans. Suffering from ill health, he turned over the squadron to Commodore Robert Field Stockton on July 23 and returned to the United States by way of Panama, arriving at Washington in November.
He was commandant of the Norfolk navy yard, 1848-51; on special duty, 1852-55, with the bureau of construction and repair, part of the time in charge of the building of Stevens' Battery at Hoboken, N. J. ; and on September 27, 1855, he was placed on the reserved list. In 1862 he was promoted commodore and in 1866 rear-admiral, both on the retired list.
He died at Staten Island.
John Drake Sloat sucessfully participated in War of 1812, Action of 2 March 1825, Mexican–American War and in the result was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. He was engaged in Battle of Monterey, thus, issued a proclamation announcing that California was a part of the United States and was a Military Governor of California. He also directed the construction of the Stevens Battery in 1855, and helped plan the Mare Island Navy Yard. There is a statue to his memory, unveiled in 1910, at the Presidio, Monterey, Cal. The town, Sloat, California, in Plumas County, California is named for him. A major street, Sloat Boulevard, and the Commodore Sloat Elementary School, both in San Francisco, California are named for him.
Quotes from others about the person
George Bancroft described the military movements of Sloat in the Pacific as "ably conceived and brilliantly executed".
On November 27, 1814, he was married to Abby Gordon (1795 - 1878), who bore him two sons and a daughter.
