Captain Coffin and His Interesting Career, by E. A. Stackpole

21

Captain Coffin and His Interesting Career

GEORGE WILLIAM COFFIN was born at Nantucket, Mass., December 23, 1845, son of Francis C. and Emeline (Wyer) Coffin. Tristram Coffin, his first paternal American ancestor, was one of the first settlers of Nantucket. The descent from him and his wife Dionis Stevens being through James and Mary (Severance) Coffin; John and Hope (Gardner) Coffin; Richard and Ruth (Bunker) Coffin, the grandparents of George William Coffin.

Entering the U. S. Naval Academy in 1860 he was graduated and commissioned an ensign in 1863 and assigned to the steam sloop Ticonderoga of the North Atlantic blockading squadron in which he served until the end of the Civil War, participating in all actions in which that vessel took part. He was severely wounded in the land assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, but continued in command of his men until the blue-jackets were withdrawn. For conspicuous bravery on this occasion he was especially commended in dispatches, and by a special act of Congress, was advanced 30 numbers in grade. He was promoted to master and lieutenant in 1866, to lieutenant commander in 1868, to Commander in 1878, and to captain in 1893.

After the Civil War he served in the Shawmut on the Brazilian station 1866-67, in the Franklin, Admiral Farragut's flagship on the Mediterranean station 1867-68, and at the U. S. Naval Academy 1868-69. In 1870 he was made Chief of Staff of the North Atlantic Fleet. He commanded several ships both on the east and west coasts and in foreign waters.

In 1884 he answered the request of the Navy Department to volunteer for the relief expedition under Admiral Winfield Scott Schley to go to the Arctic in search of Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely and his party. He was placed in command of the Alert, lent to the U. S. Government by Queen Victoria, one of the three vessels to make up the expedition. The exigencies of this command required him at one period to spend twenty-two hours in the crow's nest look-out and the leg which had sustained the wound during the Civil War became frost-bitten. This was a source of continued trouble to him and was a partial reason for his eventual retirement.

In 1886 he was again on duty in the Mediterranean and upon his return was made Chief of the Lighthouse Division which was then under the Navy. Upon the death of his wife he requested a return to sea duty. In 1895 he took the cruiser Charleston, to the Pacific, making official records of the waters of Manila Bay. These were filed with the Navy Department and given to Admiral Dewey and used by him (together with a personal letter

CAPTAIN COFFIN AND HIS INTERESTING CAREER 23

from Captain Coffin who had been a classmate and close friend) in navigation at the battle of Manila.

Due to ill health Captain Coffin was placed on the retired list in 1897, but on the outbreak of the Spanish-American War he applied, against advice, for active duty and was placed in charge of the 12th Lighthouse District.

Captain Coffin designed and patented a novel safety keel made of wood and steel for use on navy and other vessels to protect them from damage in the event of running aground. It was first used on the lighthouse service cutter Columbine.

He was a companion of the California Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and a member of the Army and Navy Club of Washington, D. C., Bohemian Club of San Francisco, and the Yokohama (Japan) Club, where he resided after his retirement from the Navy, and where his son-in-law, Medical Inspector Frank Anderson, U. S. Navy, was in charge of the Naval Hospital.

Captain Coffin was a brave and efficient officer, devoted to the service of his country, able in the performance of duty and highly esteemed by his fellow officers and superiors. He was a man of cheerful good nature and deep feeling, and had many warm friends.

He was married at Nantucket, Mass., December 1,8, 1866, to Mary Starbuck Cartwright, daughter of John Cartwright of Boston, Mass., and had a daughter, Eleanor Calder Coffin, wife of Dr. Frank Anderson, U. S. Navy, and two granddaughters, Dorothy Morgan and Eleanor Anderson.

He died in Yokohama, Japan, June 15, 1899. He requested that his ashes be placed beside his wife in Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, D. C., instead of at Arlington National Cemetery, and this was done.