US naval officer, born in Westchester Co, New York, USA. He commanded the new ironclad USS Monitor in its epic but indecisive battle with the CSS Virginia in 1862, and was temporarily blinded during the battle. He later became the superintendent of the Naval Academy (186974) and commander of the European Squadron (18757).
John Lorimer Worden (12 March 1818 – 19 October 1897) was a U.S. Admiral who served in the American Civil War. He commanded Monitor against the Confederate vessel Virginia (originally named Merrimack) in first battle of ironclad ships in 1862.
Background and early career
Worden was born in Westchester County, New York. He grew up in Fishkill, New York, and was married to Olivia Toffey, the aunt of Daniel Toffey, Captain's clerk of the USS Monitor.
Between 1844 and 1846, Worden was stationed at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. The ensuing nine years were filled with sea duty which took Worden on several cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas.
Civil War service
Brought to Washington early in 1861, he received orders in April to carry secret dispatches—regarding the reinforcement of Fort Pickens—south to the warships at Pensacola. During the return journey north, Worden was arrested near Montgomery, Alabama, and was held prisoner until exchanged about seven months later.
Taking command of Monitor
Though still ill as a result of his imprisonment, Commander Worden accepted orders to command the new ironclad Monitor on 16 January 1862. He placed the new warship in commission at the New York Navy Yard on 25 February and two days later sailed for Hampton Roads.
On the afternoon of 8 March, Worden's command approached Cape Henry, Virginia, while inside Hampton Roads, the Confederacy's own ironclad, CSS Virginia, wreaked havoc with the Union Navy's wooden blockading fleet. Arriving on the scene too late to participate in the engagement, Worden and his command set about assisting the grounded Minnesota.
The battle of the ironclads
At daybreak on the 9th, Virginia emerged once more from behind Sewell's Point to complete her reduction of the Federal fleet at Hampton Roads. As the Confederate ironclad approached Minnesota, Worden maneuvered Monitor put from the grounded ship's shadow to engage Virginia in the battle that revolutionized naval warfare. Three hours into the slug fest, Worden received facial wounds when a Confederate shell exploded just outside the pilot house that partially blinded him.
Other wartime commands
After the battle, Worden moved ashore to convalesce from his wounds. Late in 1862, he took command of the ironclad monitor Montauk and placed her in commission at New York on 14 December 1862. Later in the month, Worden took his new ship south to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off Port Royal, South Carolina. Worden took his ship into the Ogeechee River, found the Confederate privateer Rattlesnake (formerly CSS Nashville), and destroyed her with five well-placed shots.
Post-war career and last years
Not long after the Charleston attack, Capt. Worden received orders to shore duty in conjunction with the construction of ironclads in New York.
Rear Admiral Worden resided in Washington, D.C., until his death from pneumonia on 19 October 1897. After funeral services at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, he was buried in the Pawling Cemetery in Pawling, New York.
Fort Worden, located in Port Townsend, Washington and four U.S. Navy ships have been named USS Worden for him.
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