There Sure Were a Lot of Reads in the U.S. Navy

I have found  several occasions where a particular family has had a lot of members in the U.S. Navy.  I looked at a list of Naval and Marine Officers from 1798 to 1900 and saw a lot of Reads.  There were 19 of them.

Unfortunately, I don't know if any of these were related to George Campbell Read.

Quite a few were Civil War era so one or more might have been his sons or grandsons.  At least one of the Reads served in both the U.S. and Confederate navies, Charles W. Read, who compiled quite a record of daring exploits.

And, of course, he was related to the famed Dale family through marriage, having married Revolutionary War's Richard Dale's daughter.

--Brock-Perry

George Campbell Read, USN-- Part 2: A Varied and Long Navy Career

He was promoted to commander in 1816 and then served in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Africa.  In 1825, he was promoted again, this time to captain and commanded the USS Constitution in 1826

In 1838-1839, he took part in the retaliatory action against pirates and raiders who preyed upon American shipping in India.  From 1836 to 1846 he commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard.  He also contributed to the establishment of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Then from 1846 to 1849, he commanded the African Squadron.  When the Civil War broke out, in 1861, he was in charge of the Philadelphia Naval Asylum.

His final promotion came in July 1862, to the rank of rear admiral.   He died a month later.

A Long and Varied Career.  --Brock-Perry

George Campbell Read-- USN-- Part 2: Married Into the Dale Family

George Campbell Read married Elizabeth Dale Read (Midshipman Richard S. Dale's sister and daughter of American Revolution Naval Hero Richard Dale).

He was in the Navy from the War of 1812 until the Civil War, a long time.

Entering the U.S. Navy in 1804 as a midshipman, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1810.  In 1812, he was serving aboard the USS Constitution under Commodore Isaac Hull during the War of 1812.  And that meant he was there for the famed battle with the HMS Guerriere.

As a matter of fact, after it became clear that the Constitution had won the battle on August 19, 1812, he was detailed by Hull to  board the English vessel and receive its surrender.

Later that year, he was with Commodore Stephen Decatur when his ship, the USS United States, captured the British frigate HMS Macedonian.

And, I'd never heard of him.

There At the Both Big Naval Victories!!  --Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale's Sister Elizabeth Married George Campbell Read, USN Officer War of 1812 to Civil War-- Part 1

From Find A Grave.

GEORGE CAMPBELL READ

BIRTH:  9 January 1788, in Glastonbury, Connecticut

DEATH: 22 August 1862 in Philadelphia, Pa. (aged74)

BURIAL:  Laurel Hill Cemetery Philadelphia, Section 14, Lot 136

War of 1812 to Civil War Union Naval Officer.

He entered the U.S. Navy  as a midshipman in 1804 and spent the next  58 years of his life in the Naval Service.

--Brock-Perry