The Biographical Dictionary of America/Alden, James

ALDEN, James, naval officer, was born in Portland, Me., March 31, 1810. He entered the U.S. navy as midshipman in 1828; served on the Wilkes expedition 1838-41; became lieutenant in 1842; served in the Mexican war, being present at the bombardment and capture of Vera Cruz, Tuxpan and Tabasco, and subsequently engaged in the Puget Sound Indian troubles. He commanded the South Carolina in 1861, took reënforcements to Fort Pickens, Fla., and participated in the battle of Galveston harbor. He was with Farragut and commanded the "Richmond" of the fleet that ran the gauntlet of Forts St. Philip and Jackson, and aided in the capture of New Orleans, April, 1862. In 1863 he was promoted captain, and commanded the sloop of war "Brooklyn," and with her engaged in the capture of Mobile Bay in 1864, his ship leading the attack. Then with the "Brooklyn" he aided in the capture of Fort Fisher, N. C. In 1866 he was made commodore, and in 1888 had charge of the navy yard in California. He was ordered to Washington in 1869 as chief of the bureau of navigation, and in 1871 was promoted rear-admiral and assigned to the European squadron, and shortly after retired on account of age. He died in San Francisco, Cal., Feb. 6, 1877.