As varied as John Gwinn's naval career was before his death, his remains also had quite an interesting history as he was reburied two times after the initial time in 1849 in Italy. He was next buried in Philadelphia then Arlington, Virginia.
From the USS Constitution Museum "Memento Mori."
Most of the many captains of The USS Constitution are known for the adventures during their lifetime, there is one captain who made waves during his life and his death.
That would be John Gwinn, the first captain to die while in command of the USS Constitution.
Following a short illness, Gwinn died in Palermo, Sicily, on September 4, 1849. The day after his death, carpenters and armorers fabricated Gwinn's coffin from wood and lead. The captain's internment in Palermo was supposed to be only a temporary one.
The funeral took place on September 6, 1849, and "his remains were followed to the tomb by the officers and men of [Constitution], as well as by officers of all the foreign ships in port and by the civil and military authorities of this city," as noted in a letter from Assistant Surgeon Phineas Jonathan Horwitz to Gwinn's widow.
--Brock-Perry
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