Background
He was born in Rutland, Vermont, in March 23, 1824. He was the son of Robert and Charlotte Eloise (Green) Temple, and a descendant of Robert Temple, who was born in Ireland and emigrated to Boston, Massachussets, in 1717.
He was born in Rutland, Vermont, in March 23, 1824. He was the son of Robert and Charlotte Eloise (Green) Temple, and a descendant of Robert Temple, who was born in Ireland and emigrated to Boston, Massachussets, in 1717.
After service in the Home Squadron, he studied six months ashore until his promotion to passed midshipman, July 11, 1846.
Appointed midshipman on April 18, 1840, he made his first cruise in the Constellation around the world, 1840-44. He was wrecked in the Boston on Eleuthera Island (Bahamas), October 5, 1847, and subsequently had charge of the sick men sent to Norfolk in the schooner Volant. Returning to the Gulf of Mexico in the steamer Scourge, he participated in the chief naval events of 1847 in the Mexican War, including the siege of Vera Cruz; the capture of Alvarado, March 31, where he and two men occupied the town for a day after the Scourge had taken it unassisted (thus upsetting Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry's plan for a grand-scale operation); and the occupation of Túxpan and Tabasco.
His "Memoir of the Landing of the United States Troops at Vera Cruz in 1847, " dated March 23, 1852, but first published in P. S. P. Conner's The Home Squadron under Commodore Conner in the War with Mexico (1896), shows keen professional interest and ability. His duty in the next decade, save for a Mediterranean cruise in 1852-55 and an assignment as flag lieutenant in the Pacific Squadron in 1859-61, was in coast survey work, ranging from New York harbor to Florida.
In the Civil War he first commanded the steamer Flambeau, sent in November 1861 to cut off blockade runners at Nassau. His work there was not aggressive enough to satisfy the American consul at Nassau, but Flag Officer Samuel Francis Du Pont spoke approvingly of it. On January 22, 1862, he was invalided north. After seven months' ordnance duty in New York he commanded the Pembina on the Mobile blockade until November 1863, and was then made flag captain of the East Gulf Squadron. A year later he took command of the side-wheeler Pontoosuc, which was in the first line of Admiral David Dixon Porter's fleet in both attacks on Fort Fisher, December 23-25, 1864, and January 13-15, 1865. His report of the first attack, revealing the ineffective use of Gen. B. F. Butler's landing forces, was forwarded by Porter with the comment, "Important as a matter of history, and tells the whole story". Porter included him in recommendations for promotion.
After participating in Virginia waters in the closing operations of the war, he was detached May 25, 1865. He was made commander, March 3, 1865; captain, August 28, 1870; commodore, June 5, 1878; and rear admiral, February 22, 1884, just before his voluntary retirement on Feb. 29. His post-war service included ordnance duty at Portsmouth, N. H. (1866 - 69); an assignment as escort to King Kalakaua of Hawaii during his visit to the United States, December 11-28, 1874, for which he was made knight commander of the order of Kamehameha I; service as chief of staff in the European Squadron (1871 - 73), with a subsequent leave of eighteen months in Europe, as captain of the New York navy yard (1875 - 77), and as member of the retiring board (1879 - 84).
His death from apoplexy occurred in Washington, where he resided after his retirement, and his burial was in the Congressional Cemetery.
As suggested by his frequent staff assignments, he was an officer of unusual ability and striking personality. A relative describes him as "the beau ideal of a handsome man, very tall and very large, celebrated for his wit and gifts as a raconteur. "
He was married October 7, 1851, to Catlyna, daughter of Gen. J. G. Totten, but had no children.
