United States Naval Officer. A native of New Jersey, he joined the United States Navy in June 1812, several days before the outbreak of the War of 1812. Assigned at the rank of Midshipman, he served with distinction throughout the war, including service aboard the "USS Niagara" during the September 10, 1813 Battle of Lake Erie. Commissioned to the rank of Lieutenant in 1818, he continued to rise through the ranks until 1845, when he was given command of the "USS Portsmouth" in the Navy's Pacific Fleet. With the outbreak of the Mexican War, the Portsmouth was ordered to Northern California where she anchored in the San Francisco Bay. On July 9, 1846, Commander Montgomery led a small force of men from his ship into the coastal town of Yerba Buena and raised the American flag in the town plaza to capture it without firing a shot. In 1847, the town he captured would be officially re-named San Francisco. Promoted to Captain in 1853, he remained in active service and by the outbreak of the Civil War, was in command of the Pacific Fleet. In 1862, he was promoted to Commodore and assigned as commander of the Boston Navy Yard until 1863 when he took command of the Washington Navy Yard. At war's end, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and given command of the Naval Station at Sacket's Harbor, New York, a post he held until his retirement in 1869.
United States Naval Officer. A native of New Jersey, he joined the United States Navy in June 1812, several days before the outbreak of the War of 1812. Assigned at the rank of Midshipman, he served with distinction throughout the war, including service aboard the "USS Niagara" during the September 10, 1813 Battle of Lake Erie. Commissioned to the rank of Lieutenant in 1818, he continued to rise through the ranks until 1845, when he was given command of the "USS Portsmouth" in the Navy's Pacific Fleet. With the outbreak of the Mexican War, the Portsmouth was ordered to Northern California where she anchored in the San Francisco Bay. On July 9, 1846, Commander Montgomery led a small force of men from his ship into the coastal town of Yerba Buena and raised the American flag in the town plaza to capture it without firing a shot. In 1847, the town he captured would be officially re-named San Francisco. Promoted to Captain in 1853, he remained in active service and by the outbreak of the Civil War, was in command of the Pacific Fleet. In 1862, he was promoted to Commodore and assigned as commander of the Boston Navy Yard until 1863 when he took command of the Washington Navy Yard. At war's end, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and given command of the Naval Station at Sacket's Harbor, New York, a post he held until his retirement in 1869.
Bio by: G.Photographer
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