Philip Voorhees

Philip Falkerson Voorhees
Phillip Voorhees ca.1850
Born	February 23, 1792 New Brunswick, New Jersey
Died	February 23, 1862 (aged 70) Annapolis, Maryland
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1809–1855
Rank	Commodore
Commands held	Congress East India Squadron
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Philip Falkerson Voorhees (23 February 1792 – 23 February 1862)^[1] was an officer in the United States Navy, who served during the War of 1812, and later commanded the East India Squadron.

Biography

Voorhees was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the son of John Voorhees and Keziah Falkerson.^[1] He entered the navy as a midshipman on 15 November 1809, and was engaged in the War of 1812, taking part in the capture of the HMS Macedonian by the USS United States^[2] on 25 October 1812. . He was also present at the capture of HMS Epervier by USS Peacock^[3] on 28 April 1814 for which he received a silver medal from congress, and promoted to a lieutenant on 9 December 1814.

He was promoted to a commander on 24 April 1828, and to a captain on 28 February 1838. He was assigned to command of the frigate Congress on her first cruise to the Mediterranean Sea in 1842. In December 1843, Voorhees joined Commodore Daniel Turner's Brazil Squadron blockading Montevideo in safeguarding U.S. trade during Uruguayan Civil War.

The U.S. Navy stayed aloof from lower-South American troubles. On 29 September 1844, however, Voorhees showed himself to be quick-tempered and impulsive. He captured an armed Argentine schooner that delivered a mail to the Argentine commanding officer.^[4] This overreaction damaged the US-Argentina relation.^[5]

He was tried by courts-martial in 1845 but the sentences of these courts were not approved. After a few months' suspension President Polk, in 1847, restored Voorhees to his full rank in the navy and gave him command of the East India Squadron on the flagship Plymouth. He returned in 1851.

In 1855 Voorhees was placed on the reserved list. At the opening of the American Civil War he urged his assignment to active duty, but, he died a few months afterward on 23 February 1862 in Annapolis, Maryland.

References

1. "Descendants of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven - Person Page 2547". conovergenealogy.com. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
2. A General Register of the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States, "Officers of the Navy, to whom thanks, medals and swords have been voted by Congress." Washington, D.C.: Alexander, Publisher, 1848. (1998-05-05). "Officers of the United States in action with the Macedonian, 25 October 1812". NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
3. Naval Register: Printed by Order of the Secretary of the Navy. August 1st, 1815. Washington, D.C.: Weightman, [1815]. (1998-05-11). "Officers of the War of 1812". NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
4. Written on 11 Sep 1844 to Mrs. Philip F. Voorhees by American author James Fenimore Cooper, http://www.fulkerson.org/jersey.html
5. David Foster Long, "Gold braid and foreign relations: diplomatic activities of U.S. naval officers, 1798-1883", pg 157-160, Naval Institute Press, 1988