Western Explorer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was appointed a U.S, Navy Midshipman in 1829. His early service was on various ships in the West Indies and South America, before being transferred to duty in the Pacific in 1839. He was transferred to the USS PEACOCK in 1840, which was on expedition in surveying portions of the Pacific and North American Court near Puget Sound. When the PEACOCK was wrecked in the mouth of the Columbia River in July 1841, Midshipman DeHaven saved the lives of several crew members. He was promoted to Lieutenant and finished the expedition on the USS OREGON. He served on the USS SOMERS in 1845, for the first expedition to Alvarado, in the Gulf of Mexico and while charting maps saw action on board the USS MISSISSIPPI in the Mexican War, in 1848. Lieutenant DeHaven was placed in command of the first Grinnell Expedition to the Arctic in 1850, to search for Sir John Franklin who was lost in 1845. His expedition found only traces of Franklin, but discovered and named Grinnell Land, now part of Ellesmere Island, Canada. In 1853, he was transferred to the West Coast, commanding a team consisting of two schooners which conducted surveys of southern coast of the U.S. until 1857. Due to Lieutenant DeHaven's deteriorating eye sight, he was officially placed on the retired list in 1862. He died at age 48 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
DeHaven was aboard the U.S.S. Falmouth, commanded by his uncle Captain Isaac McKeever, until he transferred to Charles Wilkes' U.S. Ex. Ex (Exploration Expedition), as sailing master of the flagship Vincennes.
DeHaven was aboard the U.S.S. Falmouth, commanded by his uncle Captain Isaac McKeever, until he transferred to Charles Wilkes' U.S. Ex. Ex (Exploration Expedition), as sailing master of the flagship Vincennes.
Western Explorer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was appointed a U.S, Navy Midshipman in 1829. His early service was on various ships in the West Indies and South America, before being transferred to duty in the Pacific in 1839. He was transferred to the USS PEACOCK in 1840, which was on expedition in surveying portions of the Pacific and North American Court near Puget Sound. When the PEACOCK was wrecked in the mouth of the Columbia River in July 1841, Midshipman DeHaven saved the lives of several crew members. He was promoted to Lieutenant and finished the expedition on the USS OREGON. He served on the USS SOMERS in 1845, for the first expedition to Alvarado, in the Gulf of Mexico and while charting maps saw action on board the USS MISSISSIPPI in the Mexican War, in 1848. Lieutenant DeHaven was placed in command of the first Grinnell Expedition to the Arctic in 1850, to search for Sir John Franklin who was lost in 1845. His expedition found only traces of Franklin, but discovered and named Grinnell Land, now part of Ellesmere Island, Canada. In 1853, he was transferred to the West Coast, commanding a team consisting of two schooners which conducted surveys of southern coast of the U.S. until 1857. Due to Lieutenant DeHaven's deteriorating eye sight, he was officially placed on the retired list in 1862. He died at age 48 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
DeHaven was aboard the U.S.S. Falmouth, commanded by his uncle Captain Isaac McKeever, until he transferred to Charles Wilkes' U.S. Ex. Ex (Exploration Expedition), as sailing master of the flagship Vincennes.
DeHaven was aboard the U.S.S. Falmouth, commanded by his uncle Captain Isaac McKeever, until he transferred to Charles Wilkes' U.S. Ex. Ex (Exploration Expedition), as sailing master of the flagship Vincennes.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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