There is a Herndon Monument Plaque describing the Commander's life saving efforts that ultimately led to his death at sea.∼US Navy Officer. He became a Midshipman in 1828 and was a career officer, seeing sea duty in the Pacific, South American, Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico. During the Mexican War, Herndon commanded the brig "Iris". In 1851 he headed an Amazon exploration, and his report, "Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon", became a best selling book and continues to be regarded as a seminal work on South American exploration. In 1855 Herndon, now a Commander, took leave to command the Atlantic Mail Steamship Company's "Central America", which delivered passengers and cargo from New York to Panama for movement overland to the Pacific Ocean, and then transport by to California. In 1857 Herndon was sailing with $2,000,000 in gold, nearly 500 passengers and a crew of 100 when he encountered a hurricane. After three days, the "Central America" was leaking and seawater had extinguished her boiler. Herndon fired a distress call with the ship's guns and gave the order to abandon ship. Remaining at the controls to facilitate passenger evacuation, he was last seen at the wheelhouse bowed in prayer as his ship sank. Herndon's selfless act is still cited as an example to Midshipmen, and a monument in his honor stands at the US Naval Academy. In addition, the town of Herndon in Virginia is named for him.
There is a Herndon Monument Plaque describing the Commander's life saving efforts that ultimately led to his death at sea.∼US Navy Officer. He became a Midshipman in 1828 and was a career officer, seeing sea duty in the Pacific, South American, Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico. During the Mexican War, Herndon commanded the brig "Iris". In 1851 he headed an Amazon exploration, and his report, "Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon", became a best selling book and continues to be regarded as a seminal work on South American exploration. In 1855 Herndon, now a Commander, took leave to command the Atlantic Mail Steamship Company's "Central America", which delivered passengers and cargo from New York to Panama for movement overland to the Pacific Ocean, and then transport by to California. In 1857 Herndon was sailing with $2,000,000 in gold, nearly 500 passengers and a crew of 100 when he encountered a hurricane. After three days, the "Central America" was leaking and seawater had extinguished her boiler. Herndon fired a distress call with the ship's guns and gave the order to abandon ship. Remaining at the controls to facilitate passenger evacuation, he was last seen at the wheelhouse bowed in prayer as his ship sank. Herndon's selfless act is still cited as an example to Midshipmen, and a monument in his honor stands at the US Naval Academy. In addition, the town of Herndon in Virginia is named for him.
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