Background
Wainwright was born on July 27, 1821 in New York City to Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I and Amelia Maria Phelps.
Wainwright was born on July 27, 1821 in New York City to Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I and Amelia Maria Phelps.
He attended the Philadelphia Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1842 to 1943, and became a passed midshipman on June 29, 1843.
He entered the United States Navy on June 30, 1837, at age 16, as a midshipman. They had four children including Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright III and Robert Powell Page Wainwright. He was appointed acting-master, November 10, 1849, and commissioned lieutenant, September 17, 1850.
He was on special duty in Washington, District of Columbia in 1861.
He commanded the Harriet Lane, Admiral David Dixon Porter"s flagship in Farragut"s fleet, in the Battle of Forts Jackson and Saint Philip, and took part in operations below Vicksburg. He was killed in action when his ship was attacked and captured by Confederate forces under the command of General John Bankhead Magruder during the Battle of Galveston on January 1, 1863.
His body was lost at sea.