David G. Farragut

John Chester Buttre’s engraving celebrates the military exploits of the Union naval hero David G. Farragut. Although Farragut went to sea at an early age and learned to speak French, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic, his promotion was relatively slow. This was related in part to his determination to personally care for his ailing first wife, who passed away in 1840. During the Civil War, Farragut’s boldness and courage led to key victories at Mobile Bay and New Orleans, recognized in this work. In 1866 Congress appointed Farragut a full admiral, a rank established to honor his achievements. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles later praised Farragut as possessing “innate fearless moral courage.” Welles noted that although he did “but one thing at a time, [he] does that well and strong.”