Background
Philip Falkerson Voorhees was born on February 23, 1792, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Philip Falkerson Voorhees was born on February 23, 1792, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Voorhees entered the navy as a midshipman, November 15, 1809, and fought through the War of 1812, participating in the capture of the Macedonian by the United States, and of the Epervier by the Peacock. His life was uneventful for many years except for a Mediterranean cruise in the North Carolina (1825 - 27). In 1831, he sailed again for the Mediterranean, commanding the John Adams bearing dispatches for David Porter, charge d'affaires at Constantinople.
He returned to the United States in 1834, and for the next seven years resided at Annapolis, Maryland. On July 15, 1842, Voorhees, who by this time had risen to the rank of captain, again sailed for the Mediterranean, commanding the frigate Congress, and the next year was ordered to join the Brazil squadron under Commodore Daniel Turner. On September 28, 1844, he assisted in rescuing H. M. S. Gorgon, which was stranded in the Rio de la Plata.
The following day, while off Montevideo, a schooner from Buenos Aires, the Sancala, fired on an American brig, the Rosalba, lying near the Congress. For this action Voorhees captured the Sancala and the whole Argentine squadron which was blockading Montevideo. The squadron was released after an apology but the Sancala was retained. Voorhees also refused to allow the blockade to be enforced against American vessels. Commodore Turner finally released the Sancala, though he considered Voorhees' action justifiable.
The following spring Voorhees returned home, reaching Annapolis, March 12, 1845. On June 2, he was court-martialed for his action against the Argentine squadron and sentenced to reprimand and suspension for three years. Again, on June 24, he was court-martialed on a series of trivial charges, chief of which was disobedience to an order of Commodore Turner.
He was found guilty on two specifications and suspended for eighteen months. George Bancroft, secretary of the navv, dissatisfied with the findings of the court, ordered it to review its proceedings. The court re-convened, August 5-8, 1845, and ordered Voorhees "To be dismissed from the service of the United States"; but President Polk mitigated his sentence to suspension from duty for five years.
On January 7, 1847, the President removed the suspension, and in 1849 Voorhees was ordered to take command of the East India squadron "in manifestation of his complete rehabilitation in honor as well as in rank". In 1855, he was placed by the naval retiring board on the reserved list on furlough pay. Voorhees appealed from the decision of the board, but the decision was sustained. Voorhees applied for a review of his case and President Buchanan referred the matter to the attorney-general, who rendered a decision highly favorable to Voorhees, deeming him to be the victim of many blunders and misunderstandings.
He was then placed on the reserve list with leave pay. He presented a memorial to Congress in December 1860 asking for restoration to active service, but nothing came of it. Though Voorhees was guilty of an error in judgment in capturing the Argentine squadron, his motives were admirable. Even the court that sentenced him to dismissal praised his "Uniform character, previous to these occurrences, for integrity, his gallant services as an officer, and his long continuance in the naval service, without reproach or dereliction of duty". His remaining years were passed quietly in Annapolis.
Voorhees married Anne Randall, May 12, 1835; by this marriage he had two children.
