Lawrence Rousseau

Lawrence Rousseau (July 15, 1790 – September 4, 1866) was an American naval officer. When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, he was the highest-ranking and longest-serving United States Navy officer to join the Confederate side. He was the most senior Confederate States Navy officer from 1861 to 1862. and later on (after more senior officers had surrendered). He and the last organized remnant of the CSN surrendered at Nanna Hubba Bluff, Alabama, on May 4 or 10, Pierre Rousseau served in the Continental Navy and commanded the brig sloop Gálveztown. On November 1, he was given command of Thompson's Island naval station, near present-day Key West, where he conducted several anti-pirate operations. He sailed from Hampton Roads on November 14 and arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 52 days.

Rousseau returned to the United States in 1847, and in October 6, 1848, he and New Orleans naval agent S. B. Bennett were assigned to select and purchase a site for the New Orleans navy yard. On February 24, 1852, he was appointed to command the Norfolk Navy Yard, but he was reassigned to command the Pensacola Navy Yard instead. In August of that year, he was made captain of the port of New Orleans. He headed the Pensacola Navy Yard from May 4, 1854, to April 29, 1857.

When the South seceded from the Union, he resigned from the USN on January 31, 1861, effective February 11, and joined the CSN.

Confederate States Navy Rousseau traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, to engage in the discussion of Confederate naval defences. He enlisted in the CSN on March 26 and was commissioned a captain in the CSN effective March 26, 1861, making him the highest-ranking officer in that service until 1862. (He regained that distinction during the latter stages of the war after more senior officers surrendered to the Union. )

In New Orleans, he headed the Office of Detail and Equipment. He purchased the merchant steamer Habana, which was converted into the Confederacy's first steam cruiser, CSS Sumter. (Sumter, under the command of Raphael Semmes, embarked on commerce raiding and captured 18 prizes in its six-month career.) He also purchased Marquis de la Habana, renamed CSS McRae, and Yankee (renamed CSS Jackson), and obtained other vessels, such as CSS Pamlico and CSS Livingston. He built up the naval defenses of the city, but clashed with Major General David E. Twiggs over several guns Twiggs had taken and refused to return for arming gunboats.

On August 1, 1862, he was reassigned, first to Richmond, then to Jackson station, Savannah station, and finally Mobile. On May 4 or 10, 1865, he surrendered with other Confederate officers and men at Nanna Hubba Bluff, Alabama, and gave his parole not to take up arms against the United States. He was subsequently given a presidential pardon by Andrew Johnson.