Franklin Buchanan

Loyalty: Confederate

Born Date:  September 17, 1800

Born Place:  Baltimore, MD

Died Date:  May 11, 1874

Died Place:  Talbot County, MD

Service:  Franklin Buchanan entered the Navy as a Midshipman at the age of 14 on board the frigate JAVA in 1815. He organized the Naval Academy as its first Superintendent (1845-47). He commanded the sloop GERMANTOWN in the Mexican War; and the sloop SUSQUEHANNA, flagship of Perry's squadron, in the expedition to Japan in 1852.On the morning of July 14, 1853 he became the first American to land on Japanese soil while leading the landing of Perry's party near the village of Kurihama . He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 13 September 1800.

In 1859 he became Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard. He resigned his commission as captain in 1861, when it seemed Maryland would secede for the Union. His views were not as a secessionist, but felt it only proper to fight for the well being of his family in that state. Maryland held with the Union. When Buchanan tried to recall his resignation, the Secretary of the navy wrote him saying the President had stricken his name from the rolls of the navy.

This treatment, coupled with his sympathy for the south, caused Buchanan to join the Confederate Navy with the rank of Captain. In February 1862, Buchanan was placed in command of the navel defense of the James River on board ironclad CSS Virginia (aka USS Merrimack in US Navy before capture at Norfolk and conversion into ironclad). Buchanan was able to destroy the Union frigate CUMBERLAND and capture the CONGRESS. He was severely wounded and relieved of command and therefore unable to participate during the first battle of the ironclads the following day (The Battle of Hampton Roads - MONITOR/MERRIMAC).

These successful assaults resulted in Buchanan's promotion to Admiral, the ranking officer in the Confederate Navy. He was the commanding officer of the Iron Clad TENNESSEE at the Battle of Mobile Bay, made famous by his opponent Admiral Farraguts's famous statement " Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead."He was twice wounded severely and was taken prisoner of war, 5 August 1864.