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John Ancrum Winslow
Birth: 11-19-1811
Death: 9-29-1873
Biography
John Ancrum Winslow was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Edward Winslow and Sara Ancrum Berry Winslow. Winslow entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman at the age of 16. He advanced to lieutenant in 1839 and commander in 1855. Winslow served during the Mexican-American War on the ships Cumberland and Morris. Winslow was a fierce opponent of slavery and chafed at President Lincoln's caution in more publicly ending slavery. In 1837, Winslow married his cousin Catherine Amelia Winslow with whom he had three children. Winslow's navy career reached its summit in his actions against the CSS Alabama off the coast of Cherbourg, France, in June 1864. While Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, was not happy with some of his actions relative to the sinking of the Alabama, Winslow became a public hero and was retroactively promoted to Commodore.
Citations
John Ancrum Winslow was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Edward Winslow and Sara Ancrum Berry Winslow. Winslow entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman at the age of 16. He advanced to lieutenant in 1839 and commander in 1855. Winslow served during the Mexican-American War on the ships Cumberland and Morris. Winslow was a fierce opponent of slavery and chafed at President Lincoln's caution in more publicly ending slavery. In 1837, Winslow married his cousin Catherine Amelia Winslow with whom he had three children. Winslow's navy career reached its summit in his actions against the CSS Alabama off the coast of Cherbourg, France, in June 1864. While Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, was not happy with some of his actions relative to the sinking of the Alabama, Winslow became a public hero and was retroactively promoted to Commodore.