Education
Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Selfridge graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1854.
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Thomas Oliver
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He was the first officer to receive a diploma from the Academy. At the beginning of the American, he helped with efforts to destroy the untenable Norfolk Navy Yard. And he then escaped from that burning and beleaguered base in the United States Ship Cumberland, helping to save the sloop of war for the Union Navy.
He participated in the capture of the Hatteras forts and was on board Cumberland on 8 March 1862 when she was sunk by Confederate ironclad, Computer Software Systems Virginia.
He then briefly commanded United States Ship Monitor, after Lieutenant John L. Worden was wounded. And then commanded the Alligator, an experimental submarine, in testing operations based at the Washington Navy Yard.
In August, he joined the Mississippi Squadron, and subsequently commanded the United States Ship Cairo and the United States Ship Conestoga when those ships were sunk in action. Late in the war, he returned to the Atlantic where he commanded the United States Ship Huron in the attacks on Fort Fisher.
And he participated in the ensuing bombardment of Fort Anderson and the capture of Wilmington, North Carolina.
His postwar service included command of United States Ship Nipsic, United States Ship Enterprise, and United States Ship Omaha — the last two on the Asiatic Station. He was promoted to captain in 1881. While in command of the Omaha in 1887, Selfridge conducted target practice off the coast of the Japanese island of Ikeshima which resulted in the deaths of four Japanese and the wounding of seven others
This created an international incident and Selfridge was acquitted at a court martial in 1888.
He was promoted to commodore in 1894 and then had duty as Commander in Chief of the European Squadron from 1895 to 1898. While commanding the European Squadron his flagship was the cruiser United States Ship San Francisco.
Rear Admiral Selfridge retired on February 6, 1898 and died on February 4, 1924. He was also a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.
United States Ship Selfridge (Doctor of Divinity-320) was named for the elder Rear Admiral Selfridge, while United States Ship Selfridge (Doctor of Divinity-357) was named for both officers.
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Born
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Died
February 4, 1924 (aged 87) -
Nationality
United States