Henry A. Clemson
{{Short description|United States Navy officer (1818–1846)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
Henry A. Clemson (July 12, 1818 – December 8, 1846) was an officer in the United States Navy in the early 19th century. Clemson died at sea during the Mexican American War (1846) and was memorialized on the Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument and the naming of a naval destroyer, {{USS|Clemson|DD-186}}.
Early life
Clemson was born in New Jersey to Ann Maria (Oliver) and Captain Eli B. Clemson.{{cite web
| title = New Jersey, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Church Records, 1700-1970
| website = FamilySearch.com
| url = https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/GV18-KP7
| access-date = 13 April 2023}}
Naval service
He served on several ships throughout his short career. The following is his known service based on newspaper accounts.
In 1837, he was midshipman on the frigate {{USS|Independence|1814|2}} with Commander John B. Nicholson.{{cite news
| author =
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/niles-national-register-henry-a-clemson/122819656/
| work = Niles Register
| location = St Louis, MO
| date = 3 June 1837
| page = 16
| title = List of Officers of the United States Frigate Independence
| access-date = 15 April 2023
}}
In 1840, he was a midshipman on the ship {{USS|Falmouth|1827|2}} which was returning from the Pacific and Rio Janeiro with Captain J. M. McKeever.{{cite news
| author =
| title = Arrival of the United States Ship Falmouth
| work = The Evening Post
| location = New York, New York
| date = 13 June 1840
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-post-henry-clemson-13-june/120598358/
| access-date = 15 April 2023
}}
Clemson requested permission to sit for the midshipman exams in 1841 at the Philadelphia Naval Asylum.{{cite web
| url = https://catalog.archives.gov/id/132260371
| title = Letter from Clemson requesting permission to attend exams
| website = archives.gov
| publisher = Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and Library at the National Archives
| access-date = 15 April 2023
| quote = }} He passed the exams in 1842 which made him eligible for promotion to lieutenant.{{cite news
| author =
| title = Results of Board of Examinations
| work = Niles National Register
| location = St Louis, MO
| date = 9 July 1842
| page = 16
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122819131/henry-a-clemson-9-jul-1842-p16-niles/
| access-date = 13 April 2023
}}
He served on the {{USS|Concord|1828|2}} in 1842 as passed midshipman. The Concord ran aground in November 1842 and then was abandoned. Clemson returned to the United States on the barque Margaret Hugg along with surviving crew.{{cite news
| author =
| title = Arrival of Officers on Margaret Hagg from US Ship Concord
| work = The Charleston Mercury
| location = Charleston, SC
| date = 3 April 1943
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charleston-mercury-henry-clemson-3/120598555/
| access-date = 15 April 2023
}}
By late 1843, he was serving as passed midshipman on the {{USS|Raritan|1843|2}} with Commander Francis Gregory, Esq.{{cite news
| author =
| title = Frigate Raritan
| work = Brooklyn Daily Eagle
| location = Brooklyn, NY
| date = 16 December 1843
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-henry-clemson/122819584/
| access-date = 15 April 2023
}}
In January 1844, Clemson served as passed midshipman on the {{USS|Preble|1839|2}} with Commander Thomas W. Fennelon, arriving in Haiti in June 1944 to protect the commercial interests of the United States.{{cite news
| author =
| title = List of Officers Attached to US Ship Preble
| work = New York Daily Herald
| location = New York, New York
| date = 24 January 1844
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122899571/henry-a-clemson-24-jan-1844-new-york-d/
| access-date = 18 April 2023
| author =
| title = Late from Hayti
| work = New York Daily Herald
| location = New York, New York
| date = 29 June 1844
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-daily-herald-henry-a-clemson/122899664/
| access-date = 18 April 2023}}
By late 1844, Clemson began his service as DO (duty officer) on the ship, {{USS|Erie|1813|2}}, with Lt Commander Charles C. Turner. The Erie was taking supplies to the west coast of Africa.{{cite news
| author =
| title = US Store Ship Erie Set Sail to West Coast of Africa
| work = Brooklyn Evening Star
| location = Brooklyn, NY
| date = 6 December 1844
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/brooklyn-evening-star-henry-a-clemson/122819214/
| access-date = 18 April 2023
}}
In May 1845, Clemson was serving as acting master on the {{USS|Truxtun|1842|2}} with Commander Henry Bruce, when the Truxtun captured the slaver ship, Spitfire.{{cite news
| author =
| title = American Slaver Ship Captured
| work = New York Daily Herald
| location = New York, New York
| date = 16 May 1845
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-daily-herald-henry-a-clemson/122899971/
| access-date = 18 Apr 2023
}}
By March 1846, Clemson was serving as passed midshipman on the {{USS|Potomac|1822|2}} with Captain John H. Aulick.{{cite news
| author =
| title = List of Officers Attached to the US Frigate Potomac
| work = The Times-Picayune
| location = New Orleans, LA
| date = 22 March 1846
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-picayune-henry-a-clemson-22/122900210/
| access-date = 18 Apr 2023
}}
By late November 1846, Clemson was serving as acting master on the brig {{USS|Somers|1842|2}} with Lt. Commander Raphael Semmes. The Somers had been dispatched for blockade duty in the Gulf of Mexico during the Mexican-American War.{{cite news
| author =
| title = Report of the US Revenue Schooner Forward, H. R. Nones, commander, from Tabasco via Anton Lizardo and Tampico - three days from the latter place
| work = The Times-Picayune
| location = New Orleans, LA
| date = 10 December 1846
| page = 2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-picayune-henry-a-clemson-10/122900327/
| access-date = 18 Apr 2023
}}
Clemson, along with 38 other crew, drowned on December 8, 1846 when Somers capsized off Vera Cruz in a squall while chasing a blockade runner.{{cite news |author= |title=Loss of the US Brig Somers |newspaper=The New Era |location=Portsmouth, VA |pages=2 |date=31 December 1846 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120912926/loss-of-us-brig-somers-31-dec-1846-p2/ |access-date=19 April 2023}}
In memoriam
File:Mexican War Midshipmen's or Clemson Monument.jpg
The Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument was erected at the United States Naval Academy in 1848 in the memory of Clemson and three other midshipmen who died at Vera Cruz. The monument has also been called the Clemson Monument since the side with Clemson's name faces the Academy Yard and is first seen by the midshipmen (students) on the way to classes.{{cite web
| title = Object 74: The Mexican-American War Monument. 100 Objects, A History of the Navy
| website = usna.edu
| publisher = United States Naval Academy
| url = https://www.usna.edu/100Objects/Objects/object-57.php
| access-date = 13 April 2023
| quote = Timestamp 5:25-6:10 specifically addresses Clemson}}
{{USS|Clemson|DD-186}} was named in his honor.{{cite web
| title = Naval History and Heritage Command: Clemson (Destroyer No 186)
| website = navy.mil
| url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/clemson.html
| date = 23 February 2016
| access-date = 19 April 2023
}}
Citations
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.mdhistory.org/resources/barque-margaret-hugg-of-baltimore/ Braque Margaret Hugg of Baltimore at Maryland Center for History and Culture]
- [https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=66330 Historical Markers Database: Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument (photographs)]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemson, Henry A.}}
Category:United States Navy personnel of the Mexican–American War