James Henry Gillis
Birth nameJames Henry Lawrence Gillis[1]
Born(1831-05-14)May 14, 1831
Ridgway, Pennsylvania
DiedDecember 6, 1910(1910-12-06) (aged 79)
Melbourne Beach, Florida
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1854–1893
RankRear Admiral (Acting)
Commodore
Commands heldUSS Michigan
USS Franklin
USS Lackawanna
USS Minnesota
USS Hartford
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Signature

James Henry Gillis (14 May 1831 – 6 December 1910) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. His active-duty career extended from the 1850s through the 1890s, including service in the American Civil War.

Biography

Born in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, Gillis was the son of U.S. Congressman James L. Gillis and his second wife Cecelia Ann Berray.[1] He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1854. Three years later, while serving in store ship Supply, Gillis rescued the crew of a foundered Argentine ship during a violent storm.

During the Civil War he served with Union Squadrons blockading the Confederacy, and subsequently commanded Michigan, Franklin, the flagship of the European Squadron, Lackawanna, Minnesota, and Hartford, the flagship of the Pacific Squadron.

Gillis served on the frigate USS St. Lawrence at the beginning of the Civil War, he participated in the defeat of the rebel privateer Petrel on July 28, 1861 off South Carolina.[2]

After the Civil War, he became a member of the District of Columbia Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

He was promoted to the rank of captain in September 1876 and to commodore in January 1887.

He commanded the South Atlantic Squadron from 1888 to 1890. During this assignment he held the rank of acting rear admiral.

Commodore Gillis retired from the Navy on 14 May 1893, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 62. He was known as the "Sailor with a charmed life" because he never lost a man at sea.

Rear Admiral Gillis died at Melbourne Beach, Florida at the age of 79. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, where his tombstone bears his final active-duty rank of commodore.[3]

Namesake

The destroyer USS Gillis (DD-260) was named for him and Commodore John P. Gillis.

Dates of rank

  • Midshipman, 12 October, 1848.
  • Passed Midshipman, 15 June, 1854.
  • Master, 16 September, 1855.
  • Lieutenant, 17 September, 1855.
  • Lieutenant Commander, 16 July, 1862.
  • Commander, 25 July, 1866.
  • Captain, 30 September, 1876.
  • Commodore, 29 January, 1887.
  • Retired List, 14 May, 1893.

References

  1. 1 2 "Gillis, James Henry Lawrence". Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States. Vol. III. Boston, Massachusetts: James H. Lamb Company. 1900. p. 294. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  2. ↑ Hamersly, pg. 127
  3. ↑ "Gillis, J H". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • Hamersly, Lewis R. (1878). "The records of living officers of the U.S. navy & Marine corps: compiled from official sources". Lippincott Publishing. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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