George C. Read

George Campbell Read (January 9, 1788 – August 22, 1862) was a United States Navy officer. He served during the War of 1812, commanded the USS Chippewa during the Second Barbary War, commanded the East India Squadron from 1837 to 1840 including during the Second Sumatran expedition in 1838, commanded the Africa Squadron from 1846 to 1847, and the Mediterranean Squadron from 1847 to 1849. He commanded the Philadelphia Naval Asylum from 1839 to 1846, the Philadelphia Navy Yard from 1850 to 1853, and the Philadelphia Naval Asylum again during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1862. He was promoted to rear admiral in July 1862.

Early life Read was born on January 9, 1788, in Glastonbury, Connecticut. At the age of 16, Read entered service in the United States Navy as a midshipman on April 2, 1804.

Career Read first joined the crew of in 1806 under the command of his uncle, Captain Hugh G. Campbell. On April 25, 1810, After the victory of the USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere, Read was assigned by Hull to board the British vessel, accept her surrender, remove the prisoners, and set her ablaze.

Read was served under Commodore Stephen Decatur aboard during the naval action USS United States vs HMS Macedonian. In 1813, he served on the USS John Adams, and commanded the USS Scorpion and USS Vixen. In 1814, he commanded the USS Conquest. He received Congressional silver medals for his service on the Constitution and United States during the War of 1812. He was stationed in Boston from 1815 to 1817. He was promoted to master commandant in 1817 and commanded the USS Hornet.

As a lieutenant, Read commanded the brig during the Second Barbary War in 1815. He was promoted to commander in 1816, and served in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Africa. After a promotion to captain in 1825, he took command of USS Constitution. Upon return to the United States, Read was accused of cruelty by one of his crew. A trial took place in Baltimore, Maryland on June 23, 1835. Testimony revealed that the accuser, a midshipman, had refused to go aloft the mast when ordered by Read.

He commanded the East India Squadron from 1837 to 1840 and took part in retaliatory actions against the pirates and raiders who preyed on American shipping in India. He commanded the Second Sumatran Expedition which was undertaken in response to the massacre of the merchant ship Eclipse. In 1840, Around the World: A Narrative of a Voyage in the East India Squadron, Under Commodore George C. Read., was published by Charles S. Francis, which described the travels of the East India Squadron.

From 1839 to 1846, Read commanded the Philadelphia Naval School. He served on a Naval board with Commodores Thomas ap Catesby Jones, Matthew C. Perry, and Captains Elie A. F. La Vallette and Isaac Mayo for the examination of midshipmen entitled to promotion. He next commanded the Africa Squadron from 1846 to 1847 and the Mediterranean Squadron from 1847 to 1849. He commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard from 1850 to 1853. He died on August 22, 1862, and was interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Legacy The naval patrol ship USS Commodore Read was named in his honor.