# James Augustin Greer

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United States Navy admiral (1833–1904)

For the fictional naval officer, see [Ryanverse § Main](/source/Ryanverse#Main). For persons of a similar name, see [James Greer](/source/James_Greer_(disambiguation)).

James Augustin Greer Admiral Greer in 1892 Born (1833-02-28)February 28, 1833 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. Died June 17, 1904(1904-06-17) (aged 71) Washington, D.C., U.S. Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery Allegiance United States of America Branch United States Navy Service years 1848–1895 Rank Rear admiral Commands USS Carondelet USS Benton USS Black Hawk USS Mohongo USS Tuscarora USS Tigress USS Constitution USS Constellation USS Hartford European Squadron Conflicts American Civil War Siege of Vicksburg Battle of Grand Gulf Red River campaign Signature

**James Augustin Greer**[1] (February 28, 1833 – June 17, 1904) was a [rear admiral](/source/Rear_admiral) in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy), who served during the [Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War).

## Early years

Greer was born in [Cincinnati, Ohio](/source/Cincinnati%2C_Ohio).[2] He enlisted into the Navy on January 10, 1848, shortly before his 15th birthday, joining the sloop [*Saratoga*](/source/USS_Saratoga_(1842)) as a [midshipman](/source/Midshipman).[3] He entered the [United States Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy) in 1853, and graduated as a [passed midshipman](/source/Passed_Midshipman#United_States_Navy) the following year. After participating in the [Paraguay Expedition](/source/Paraguay_Expedition), he cruised the west African coast until the outbreak of the Civil War.[2]

## Civil War

Greer was serving as a [lieutenant](/source/Lieutenant)[3] on board the [*San Jacinto*](/source/USS_San_Jacinto_(1850)) on November 7, 1861, when she stopped the [British](/source/United_Kingdom) [steamer](/source/Steamboat) *Trent* and removed the [Confederate](/source/Confederate_States_of_America) diplomatic commissioners on their way to [Britain](/source/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland), thereby nearly drawing Great Britain into the war on the Confederate side.[2] This incident became celebrated as the [*Trent* Affair](/source/Trent_Affair).

Greer was promoted to [lieutenant commander](/source/Lieutenant_commander_(United_States))[3] and served on the [*St. Louis*](/source/USS_St._Louis_(1828)) from 1862 to 1863, and then was attached to Rear Admiral [David Dixon Porter](/source/David_Dixon_Porter)'s [Mississippi Squadron](/source/Mississippi_Squadron). While in command of the [ironclads](/source/Ironclad_warship) [*Carondelet*](/source/USS_Carondelet) and [*Benton*](/source/USS_Benton), he participated in the [Vicksburg campaign](/source/Battle_of_Vicksburg) and the shelling of [Grand Gulf](/source/Battle_of_Grand_Gulf) as well as the abortive Union [Red River expedition](/source/Red_River_Campaign)[2] in early 1864.

After commanding the Naval Station at [Mound City, Illinois](/source/Mound_City%2C_Illinois), he assumed command of the [*Black Hawk*](/source/USS_Black_Hawk_(1848)),[2] flagship of the [Mississippi River Squadron](/source/Mississippi_River_Squadron) under [Samuel Phillips Lee](/source/Samuel_Phillips_Lee),[3] and was then in charge of conveying [Army](/source/United_States_Army) transports up the [Tennessee River](/source/Tennessee_River).[2]

In 1866 he was elected a companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the [Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States](/source/Military_Order_of_the_Loyal_Legion_of_the_United_States) (MOLLUS). He was assigned MOLLUS insignia number 160.

## Post-war service

A tour of duty as assistant to the [Commandant at Annapolis](/source/Commandant_of_Midshipmen) after the war[2] was followed by promotion to [commander](/source/Commander_(United_States)) on July 25, 1866[3] and appointment to command of [*Mohongo*](/source/USS_Mohongo) with the [Pacific Squadron](/source/Pacific_Squadron), where Greer was commended for "defending American interests" in Mexico.[2] He then commanded the [*Tuscarora*](/source/USS_Tuscarora).[3] After a tour of duty at the [Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy) between 1869 and 1873, Greer returned to the Pacific Station. In 1873, he commanded the [*Tigress*](/source/USS_Tigress_(1871)) when that ship was sent to find and aid the ship *[Polaris](/source/USS_Periwinkle_(1864))*. The *Polaris* was wrecked on an Arctic expedition which had been led by [Charles Francis Hall](/source/Charles_Francis_Hall).[2]

Greer was promoted to [captain](/source/Captain_(United_States)) in 1876.[3] After special service in [*Constitution*](/source/USS_Constitution) during the 1878 [Paris Exposition](/source/Exposition_Universelle_(1878)),[2] Greer commanded the ships [*Constellation*](/source/USS_Constellation_(1854)) and [*Hartford*](/source/USS_Hartford_(1858)).[3]

He held a variety of shore posts[2] and was promoted to [commodore](/source/Commodore_(United_States)) in 1886[3] before serving as commander of the [European Squadron](/source/European_Squadron) from 1887 to 1889.[2]

Greer served as president of the "Board of Organization, Tactics, and Drill", and of the "Examination and Retiring Board".[3]

He was promoted to [rear admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(United_States)) in 1892, and retired on February 28, 1895. Admiral Greer died in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), on June 17, 1904,[2][4] and was buried with full military honors in [Arlington National Cemetery](/source/Arlington_National_Cemetery) two days later.[5][6]

## Namesakes

- The destroyer [USS *Greer* (DD-145)](/source/USS_Greer) was named for him.

- Several [Tom Clancy](/source/Tom_Clancy) novels feature a Vice Admiral James Greer, who is the [Deputy Director of Central Intelligence](/source/Deputy_Director_of_Central_Intelligence).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [*Official Register of the United States*](https://books.google.com/books?id=kyThbyYKo9IC&pg=PA919). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. July 1, 1903. p. 919. Retrieved August 15, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-DANFS_2-12) ["USS *Greer*"](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/g/greer.html). *[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)*. 2004. Retrieved December 26, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-NYT-retired_3-9) ["After Valuable Service Rear Admiral Greer to be Placed on the Retired List"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1895/02/28/102449715.pdf) (PDF). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [New York](/source/New_York%2C_NY). February 28, 1895. p. 3. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved March 30, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Rear Admiral Greer Dead: One of the Distinguished Naval Fighters of the Civil War"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/144466907). *The Washington Post*. June 18, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved August 15, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Burial Detail: Greer, James A"](https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgVncmVlchIFamFtZXMaAWE-/). *ANC Explorer*. Retrieved December 13, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Funeral of Admiral Greer.: Military Escort of Honor Follows Body to Arlington Cemetery"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/144523817). *The Washington Post*. June 20, 1904. p. 7. Retrieved August 15, 2023.

- *This article incorporates text from the [public domain](/source/Public_domain)*[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)*. The entry can be found [here](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/g/greer.html).*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Augustin Greer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Augustin_Greer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Augustin_Greer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.