Porter, David Dixon (1813-1891), was a United States naval officer who became noted for his service during the American Civil War (1861-1865). In the Union attack on New Orleans in 1862, Porter directed a mortar squadron under the command of his adopted brother, David Farragut. Porter fired mortar shells at Fort Jackson and Fort Saint Philip for five days. Then Farragut went past the forts and destroyed the Confederate fleet. The forts surrendered to Porter a few days later.
Later in 1862, Porter commanded the U.S. Navy’s upper Mississippi squadron. In 1863, he helped the Army capture the Arkansas Post, also called Fort Hindman, in Arkansas. In addition, he aided in the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and became a rear admiral for this action. Porter became commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1864. The squadron captured many merchant ships that tried to enter or leave Southern ports. In 1865, as commander of about 60 naval vessels, the largest fleet assembled during the war, Porter took part in the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
Porter served as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from 1865 to 1869. He became a vice admiral in 1866. In 1870, he succeeded Farragut as an admiral, becoming the second person in the history of the Navy to hold that rank. Porter headed the Board of Inspection from 1877 until his death on Feb. 13, 1891.
Porter was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, on June 8, 1813. At the age of 10, he went with his father, David Porter, to fight pirates in the Caribbean region. He also served with his father as a midshipman in the Mexican Navy (see Porter, David ). At the age of 16, Porter joined the U.S. Navy as a midshipman. He commanded the vessel Spitfire during the Mexican War (1846-1848).
