The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]), January 13, 1879, Page 7
Coomodore John Guest
Commodore John Guest, United States Navy, commandant of Portsmouth Naval Station, died of chronic albuminaria at his residence at the Navy Yard at twelve minutes before nine o'clock yesterday morning. He was taken on Tuesday, the 7th inst., with angina pectoris--severe pains in the region of the heart and arm--which was speedily followed by the usual symptoms of blood poisoning common to Bright's Disease. He was born in Missouri, Mary 7, 1822. The Navy has lost in Commodore Guest one of its brightest ornaments. The following is a list of the services performed by this officer:
Appointed mid-shipman from Arkansas Dec. 16, 1837, and was ordered to the sloop -of-war Warrent, West India squadron, in 1838, where he remained until 1842.
He was at the Naval School, Philadelphia, in 1843; was promoted to midshipman June 29, 1843; served on steamer Poinsett in surveying Tampa Bay during 1844 and 1845; served on the frigate Congress, Pacific squadron, 1845 to 1848; was at the battle of San Gabriel January 8, and the battle of Mesa, California during the war with Mexico, January 9, 1848.
He was commissioned as Lieutenant December 24, 1850, and was ordered to the sloop-of-war Plymouth, East India Squadron, where he served from 1851 to 1855. In 1854, with the cutter of the Plymouth, he boarded the Chinese man-of-war Sir H. Compton, at Shanghai, and liberated a pilotboat's crew who were under the protection of the American flag. For this gallant act her was promoted to the second in command of the Plymouth, under Captain John Kelley, and fought a severe and victorious action with the Chinese at Shanghai to prevent aggression on foreign residents.
During 1855 and 1856 he was on special duty at Washington, and during 1857 and 1858 he was executive officer of the United States steam frigate Niagara and laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic. For his valuable services on this occasion he received a medal.
After a short term of duty at the naval rendezvous at Philadelphia, he received orders to join the Niagara, and sailed for Japan with the first Japanese Embassy. He accompanied Commodore Perry in the Susquehanna, and was present at the first landing of the Americans in Japan. In 1861 he commanded his old ship, the Niagara, the flagship of the West Gulf squadron. While in command of this vessel he took her bouats and in the night cut out the schooner Aid, then under the protection of Fort Morgan, at Mobile Bay. This occurred in August 1861. He commanded the United States steamer Owasco in 1862, and was present at the capture of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, New Orleans. His conduct at the bombardment of these forts was such as to call forth rousing cheers from the mortar schooners. The fire of the enemy became very galling, and the fleet, anchored, as it was, near the bank, had to suffer severely from the enemy's shot; but th eOwasco, with her captain quietly seated upon the quarter deck, appeared, and in a few minutes the guns of the enemy were silenced.
After the capture of New Orleans, the Owasco was with Admiral Farragut in all the fights up the Mississippi, including the severe passage of the bluffs at Vicksburg. Lieutenant Guest was commissioned as Commander in July 16, 1862, and commanded the Owasco at the capture of the forts and Galveston City.
He was ordered to the command of the iron-clad Sagamore in 1863, and while on this duty he invented and put in practice the first spar torpedo ever used.
In 1863 and 1864 he commanded the Galatea on convoy duty in the West Indies. In 1865 he commanded the steamer Iosco, and was present and took part in both attacks on Fort Fisher. He was commissioned (July 25, 1866) as Captain and was executive officer at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. from 1867 - 1869. He commanded the United States steamer Brooklyn, in the European squadron in 18 70 and 1871; was captain of the Navy Yard at Philadelphia in 1872; was promoted to be commodore December 12, 1872, and was ordered as senior officer of Board of Inspection of Vessels, where he remained from 1872 to 1876.
He was called from this duty to command the station at which he died. Commodore Guest had been forty-one years in the service of his country, twenty-one of which had been on shipboard and at sea, but always kind and courteous to all, particularly to his subordinates. He was a great thinker and possessed advanced information pon many subjects of vital interest to the navy and the country. Many months ago, when writing to the chairman of the Naval Committee in Congress upon the condition of the navy, he expressed himself very much concerned on the Chinese question. A portion of his letter was published at that time in the Herald, and recent events go to prove the correctness of the Commodore's views. The people of Portsmouth lose a warm friend. The moist eyes of the humblest workman in the Portsmouth Navy Yard are the truest testimonials of his worth. The body will leave Portsmouth on Tuesday forenoon for Philadelphia, where the funeral will take place on Thursday, at noon. The body will be placed, by request, in the vault of St. Mary's. Only two deaths have occurred at Portsmouth Navy Yard in many years, those of the brave old Admiral Farragut and Passed Assistant Engineer John Ford. Captain Jonathan Young, executive officer of the yard, is now acting commandant.
Commodore Guest leaves a wife and daughter, the latter being the wife of Lieutenant Seymour, attached to his yard, and four sons, one of whom is lieutenant in the Eighth cavalry.
Coomodore John Guest
Commodore John Guest, United States Navy, commandant of Portsmouth Naval Station, died of chronic albuminaria at his residence at the Navy Yard at twelve minutes before nine o'clock yesterday morning. He was taken on Tuesday, the 7th inst., with angina pectoris--severe pains in the region of the heart and arm--which was speedily followed by the usual symptoms of blood poisoning common to Bright's Disease. He was born in Missouri, Mary 7, 1822. The Navy has lost in Commodore Guest one of its brightest ornaments. The following is a list of the services performed by this officer:
Appointed mid-shipman from Arkansas Dec. 16, 1837, and was ordered to the sloop -of-war Warrent, West India squadron, in 1838, where he remained until 1842.
He was at the Naval School, Philadelphia, in 1843; was promoted to midshipman June 29, 1843; served on steamer Poinsett in surveying Tampa Bay during 1844 and 1845; served on the frigate Congress, Pacific squadron, 1845 to 1848; was at the battle of San Gabriel January 8, and the battle of Mesa, California during the war with Mexico, January 9, 1848.
He was commissioned as Lieutenant December 24, 1850, and was ordered to the sloop-of-war Plymouth, East India Squadron, where he served from 1851 to 1855. In 1854, with the cutter of the Plymouth, he boarded the Chinese man-of-war Sir H. Compton, at Shanghai, and liberated a pilotboat's crew who were under the protection of the American flag. For this gallant act her was promoted to the second in command of the Plymouth, under Captain John Kelley, and fought a severe and victorious action with the Chinese at Shanghai to prevent aggression on foreign residents.
During 1855 and 1856 he was on special duty at Washington, and during 1857 and 1858 he was executive officer of the United States steam frigate Niagara and laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic. For his valuable services on this occasion he received a medal.
After a short term of duty at the naval rendezvous at Philadelphia, he received orders to join the Niagara, and sailed for Japan with the first Japanese Embassy. He accompanied Commodore Perry in the Susquehanna, and was present at the first landing of the Americans in Japan. In 1861 he commanded his old ship, the Niagara, the flagship of the West Gulf squadron. While in command of this vessel he took her bouats and in the night cut out the schooner Aid, then under the protection of Fort Morgan, at Mobile Bay. This occurred in August 1861. He commanded the United States steamer Owasco in 1862, and was present at the capture of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, New Orleans. His conduct at the bombardment of these forts was such as to call forth rousing cheers from the mortar schooners. The fire of the enemy became very galling, and the fleet, anchored, as it was, near the bank, had to suffer severely from the enemy's shot; but th eOwasco, with her captain quietly seated upon the quarter deck, appeared, and in a few minutes the guns of the enemy were silenced.
After the capture of New Orleans, the Owasco was with Admiral Farragut in all the fights up the Mississippi, including the severe passage of the bluffs at Vicksburg. Lieutenant Guest was commissioned as Commander in July 16, 1862, and commanded the Owasco at the capture of the forts and Galveston City.
He was ordered to the command of the iron-clad Sagamore in 1863, and while on this duty he invented and put in practice the first spar torpedo ever used.
In 1863 and 1864 he commanded the Galatea on convoy duty in the West Indies. In 1865 he commanded the steamer Iosco, and was present and took part in both attacks on Fort Fisher. He was commissioned (July 25, 1866) as Captain and was executive officer at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. from 1867 - 1869. He commanded the United States steamer Brooklyn, in the European squadron in 18 70 and 1871; was captain of the Navy Yard at Philadelphia in 1872; was promoted to be commodore December 12, 1872, and was ordered as senior officer of Board of Inspection of Vessels, where he remained from 1872 to 1876.
He was called from this duty to command the station at which he died. Commodore Guest had been forty-one years in the service of his country, twenty-one of which had been on shipboard and at sea, but always kind and courteous to all, particularly to his subordinates. He was a great thinker and possessed advanced information pon many subjects of vital interest to the navy and the country. Many months ago, when writing to the chairman of the Naval Committee in Congress upon the condition of the navy, he expressed himself very much concerned on the Chinese question. A portion of his letter was published at that time in the Herald, and recent events go to prove the correctness of the Commodore's views. The people of Portsmouth lose a warm friend. The moist eyes of the humblest workman in the Portsmouth Navy Yard are the truest testimonials of his worth. The body will leave Portsmouth on Tuesday forenoon for Philadelphia, where the funeral will take place on Thursday, at noon. The body will be placed, by request, in the vault of St. Mary's. Only two deaths have occurred at Portsmouth Navy Yard in many years, those of the brave old Admiral Farragut and Passed Assistant Engineer John Ford. Captain Jonathan Young, executive officer of the yard, is now acting commandant.
Commodore Guest leaves a wife and daughter, the latter being the wife of Lieutenant Seymour, attached to his yard, and four sons, one of whom is lieutenant in the Eighth cavalry.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]), January 13, 1879, Page 7
Coomodore John Guest
Commodore John Guest, United States Navy, commandant of Portsmouth Naval Station, died of chronic albuminaria at his residence at the Navy Yard at twelve minutes before nine o'clock yesterday morning. He was taken on Tuesday, the 7th inst., with angina pectoris--severe pains in the region of the heart and arm--which was speedily followed by the usual symptoms of blood poisoning common to Bright's Disease. He was born in Missouri, Mary 7, 1822. The Navy has lost in Commodore Guest one of its brightest ornaments. The following is a list of the services performed by this officer:
Appointed mid-shipman from Arkansas Dec. 16, 1837, and was ordered to the sloop -of-war Warrent, West India squadron, in 1838, where he remained until 1842.
He was at the Naval School, Philadelphia, in 1843; was promoted to midshipman June 29, 1843; served on steamer Poinsett in surveying Tampa Bay during 1844 and 1845; served on the frigate Congress, Pacific squadron, 1845 to 1848; was at the battle of San Gabriel January 8, and the battle of Mesa, California during the war with Mexico, January 9, 1848.
He was commissioned as Lieutenant December 24, 1850, and was ordered to the sloop-of-war Plymouth, East India Squadron, where he served from 1851 to 1855. In 1854, with the cutter of the Plymouth, he boarded the Chinese man-of-war Sir H. Compton, at Shanghai, and liberated a pilotboat's crew who were under the protection of the American flag. For this gallant act her was promoted to the second in command of the Plymouth, under Captain John Kelley, and fought a severe and victorious action with the Chinese at Shanghai to prevent aggression on foreign residents.
During 1855 and 1856 he was on special duty at Washington, and during 1857 and 1858 he was executive officer of the United States steam frigate Niagara and laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic. For his valuable services on this occasion he received a medal.
After a short term of duty at the naval rendezvous at Philadelphia, he received orders to join the Niagara, and sailed for Japan with the first Japanese Embassy. He accompanied Commodore Perry in the Susquehanna, and was present at the first landing of the Americans in Japan. In 1861 he commanded his old ship, the Niagara, the flagship of the West Gulf squadron. While in command of this vessel he took her bouats and in the night cut out the schooner Aid, then under the protection of Fort Morgan, at Mobile Bay. This occurred in August 1861. He commanded the United States steamer Owasco in 1862, and was present at the capture of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, New Orleans. His conduct at the bombardment of these forts was such as to call forth rousing cheers from the mortar schooners. The fire of the enemy became very galling, and the fleet, anchored, as it was, near the bank, had to suffer severely from the enemy's shot; but th eOwasco, with her captain quietly seated upon the quarter deck, appeared, and in a few minutes the guns of the enemy were silenced.
After the capture of New Orleans, the Owasco was with Admiral Farragut in all the fights up the Mississippi, including the severe passage of the bluffs at Vicksburg. Lieutenant Guest was commissioned as Commander in July 16, 1862, and commanded the Owasco at the capture of the forts and Galveston City.
He was ordered to the command of the iron-clad Sagamore in 1863, and while on this duty he invented and put in practice the first spar torpedo ever used.
In 1863 and 1864 he commanded the Galatea on convoy duty in the West Indies. In 1865 he commanded the steamer Iosco, and was present and took part in both attacks on Fort Fisher. He was commissioned (July 25, 1866) as Captain and was executive officer at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. from 1867 - 1869. He commanded the United States steamer Brooklyn, in the European squadron in 18 70 and 1871; was captain of the Navy Yard at Philadelphia in 1872; was promoted to be commodore December 12, 1872, and was ordered as senior officer of Board of Inspection of Vessels, where he remained from 1872 to 1876.
He was called from this duty to command the station at which he died. Commodore Guest had been forty-one years in the service of his country, twenty-one of which had been on shipboard and at sea, but always kind and courteous to all, particularly to his subordinates. He was a great thinker and possessed advanced information pon many subjects of vital interest to the navy and the country. Many months ago, when writing to the chairman of the Naval Committee in Congress upon the condition of the navy, he expressed himself very much concerned on the Chinese question. A portion of his letter was published at that time in the Herald, and recent events go to prove the correctness of the Commodore's views. The people of Portsmouth lose a warm friend. The moist eyes of the humblest workman in the Portsmouth Navy Yard are the truest testimonials of his worth. The body will leave Portsmouth on Tuesday forenoon for Philadelphia, where the funeral will take place on Thursday, at noon. The body will be placed, by request, in the vault of St. Mary's. Only two deaths have occurred at Portsmouth Navy Yard in many years, those of the brave old Admiral Farragut and Passed Assistant Engineer John Ford. Captain Jonathan Young, executive officer of the yard, is now acting commandant.
Commodore Guest leaves a wife and daughter, the latter being the wife of Lieutenant Seymour, attached to his yard, and four sons, one of whom is lieutenant in the Eighth cavalry.
Coomodore John Guest
Commodore John Guest, United States Navy, commandant of Portsmouth Naval Station, died of chronic albuminaria at his residence at the Navy Yard at twelve minutes before nine o'clock yesterday morning. He was taken on Tuesday, the 7th inst., with angina pectoris--severe pains in the region of the heart and arm--which was speedily followed by the usual symptoms of blood poisoning common to Bright's Disease. He was born in Missouri, Mary 7, 1822. The Navy has lost in Commodore Guest one of its brightest ornaments. The following is a list of the services performed by this officer:
Appointed mid-shipman from Arkansas Dec. 16, 1837, and was ordered to the sloop -of-war Warrent, West India squadron, in 1838, where he remained until 1842.
He was at the Naval School, Philadelphia, in 1843; was promoted to midshipman June 29, 1843; served on steamer Poinsett in surveying Tampa Bay during 1844 and 1845; served on the frigate Congress, Pacific squadron, 1845 to 1848; was at the battle of San Gabriel January 8, and the battle of Mesa, California during the war with Mexico, January 9, 1848.
He was commissioned as Lieutenant December 24, 1850, and was ordered to the sloop-of-war Plymouth, East India Squadron, where he served from 1851 to 1855. In 1854, with the cutter of the Plymouth, he boarded the Chinese man-of-war Sir H. Compton, at Shanghai, and liberated a pilotboat's crew who were under the protection of the American flag. For this gallant act her was promoted to the second in command of the Plymouth, under Captain John Kelley, and fought a severe and victorious action with the Chinese at Shanghai to prevent aggression on foreign residents.
During 1855 and 1856 he was on special duty at Washington, and during 1857 and 1858 he was executive officer of the United States steam frigate Niagara and laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic. For his valuable services on this occasion he received a medal.
After a short term of duty at the naval rendezvous at Philadelphia, he received orders to join the Niagara, and sailed for Japan with the first Japanese Embassy. He accompanied Commodore Perry in the Susquehanna, and was present at the first landing of the Americans in Japan. In 1861 he commanded his old ship, the Niagara, the flagship of the West Gulf squadron. While in command of this vessel he took her bouats and in the night cut out the schooner Aid, then under the protection of Fort Morgan, at Mobile Bay. This occurred in August 1861. He commanded the United States steamer Owasco in 1862, and was present at the capture of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, New Orleans. His conduct at the bombardment of these forts was such as to call forth rousing cheers from the mortar schooners. The fire of the enemy became very galling, and the fleet, anchored, as it was, near the bank, had to suffer severely from the enemy's shot; but th eOwasco, with her captain quietly seated upon the quarter deck, appeared, and in a few minutes the guns of the enemy were silenced.
After the capture of New Orleans, the Owasco was with Admiral Farragut in all the fights up the Mississippi, including the severe passage of the bluffs at Vicksburg. Lieutenant Guest was commissioned as Commander in July 16, 1862, and commanded the Owasco at the capture of the forts and Galveston City.
He was ordered to the command of the iron-clad Sagamore in 1863, and while on this duty he invented and put in practice the first spar torpedo ever used.
In 1863 and 1864 he commanded the Galatea on convoy duty in the West Indies. In 1865 he commanded the steamer Iosco, and was present and took part in both attacks on Fort Fisher. He was commissioned (July 25, 1866) as Captain and was executive officer at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. from 1867 - 1869. He commanded the United States steamer Brooklyn, in the European squadron in 18 70 and 1871; was captain of the Navy Yard at Philadelphia in 1872; was promoted to be commodore December 12, 1872, and was ordered as senior officer of Board of Inspection of Vessels, where he remained from 1872 to 1876.
He was called from this duty to command the station at which he died. Commodore Guest had been forty-one years in the service of his country, twenty-one of which had been on shipboard and at sea, but always kind and courteous to all, particularly to his subordinates. He was a great thinker and possessed advanced information pon many subjects of vital interest to the navy and the country. Many months ago, when writing to the chairman of the Naval Committee in Congress upon the condition of the navy, he expressed himself very much concerned on the Chinese question. A portion of his letter was published at that time in the Herald, and recent events go to prove the correctness of the Commodore's views. The people of Portsmouth lose a warm friend. The moist eyes of the humblest workman in the Portsmouth Navy Yard are the truest testimonials of his worth. The body will leave Portsmouth on Tuesday forenoon for Philadelphia, where the funeral will take place on Thursday, at noon. The body will be placed, by request, in the vault of St. Mary's. Only two deaths have occurred at Portsmouth Navy Yard in many years, those of the brave old Admiral Farragut and Passed Assistant Engineer John Ford. Captain Jonathan Young, executive officer of the yard, is now acting commandant.
Commodore Guest leaves a wife and daughter, the latter being the wife of Lieutenant Seymour, attached to his yard, and four sons, one of whom is lieutenant in the Eighth cavalry.
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