Major George Farragut (Continental Navy and Militia)

Wikipedia

Jorge Farragut , also known as George Farragut (baptized September 29 or September 30, 1755, – June 4, 1817), was a United States Navy officer during the American Revolutionary War. He also fought with the Continental infantry in battles in the South. After commanding a Spanish trading ship in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, he had joined the South Carolina Navy as a lieutenant when the war broke out. He anglicized his name to George Farragut when he joined the South Carolina Navy.

Early life

Jorge Farragut Mesquida was born to Antoni Ferragut and Joana Mesquida in Ciutadella, Minorca Minorca (Spain). He first went to sea at the age of 10, and left Spain as a young man to join the Spanish merchant marines. He commanded a small vessel that traded goods between Veracruz, Mexico, New Orleans (under French and Spanish rule), and ports in the Caribbean, namely Havana, Cuba.

American War for Independence

He joined his new country at the beginning of the American Revolution, initially as a lieutenant in the South Carolina Navy, and anglicized his first name to George. Farragut fought the British at Savannah and was captured in the Siege of Charleston in 1780. After being released in a prisoner exchange, he fought as a volunteer at the Battle of Cowpens and at Wilmington.

Marriage and family

After the war, Farragut married the Irish-American Elizabeth Shine (1765-1808) from North Carolina. They moved west to Tennessee, where their son David Farragut (born James Glasgow Farragut) was born in 1801. They had several children.

Later they moved to New Orleans, where they were living in 1808. There Farragut met David Porter Sr., another naval officer who had served in the Revolution and was living with his son, also David Porter, on active duty with the Navy as an officer. The senior Porter came to their house one day suffering from sunstroke, and, despite Elizabeth's care, he died. The same day, Elizabeth died of yellow fever. George, age 53, made plans to place his young children with friends and family who could better care for them.

He was visited by the younger Porter, who thanked him for his wife's care of his father and expressed sympathy for his loss. Porter offered to adopt James and introduce him to a career in the Navy. James and his father agreed.

Death

Jorge Farragut Mesquida died in Pascagoula, Mississippi on June 4, 1817, at age 62. He was described..."as a short, chunky man; very brave and a funny genius." - George W. Siever

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Born on the island of Minorca (Menorca). The name is Anglicized from Jorge Antonio. His story is fascinating. It is readily found, so will not be discussed in detail. Briefly: When very young he was engaged with the Russian Navy against the Turks in the Aegean Sea. In his teens, came to the Americas to trade. In 1775 at New Orleans learned of the troubles of the American colonists. Went to Port au Prince, traded his goods for arms, and brought them to Charleston, SC. Note that Minorca had been taken by Britain when he was a child, and that must have impacted his loyalties. Was commissioned in the SC Navy. Fought at Charleston, Savannah, the Battle of Cowpens, in North Carolina, and Virginia. A gunshot wound rendered one arm near useless, and it troubled him thereafter. After the war, settled in what is now Knox County, Tn. Married in NC, and the five children of record were born in Tn. Commissioned in the US Navy at New Orleans, and the family moved there in 1807. Appointed Justice of the Peace of Pascagoula. Patrolled Louisiana and Mississippi coasts during the War of 1812. Died at his home in what is now Gautier in 1817. A commemorative plaque at the site was toppled by Hurricane Katrina, and destroyed by a mowing machine.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 30 2021, 18:14:01 UTC