Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/113

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TATTNALL


TAUSSIG


Pherba (Fugate) Tate, and of Loften and Lucinda (Meriditli) Maness. He attended the common schools of Sneedville, Tenn., 1870-74; was graduated from Milligan college, Tennes- see, A.B., 1883, A.M., 1885, and was a member of the Milligan college faculty, 1883-89. He was married, May 17, 1887, to Leatitia, daughter of ■Charles Price and Rose (La Rue) Cornforth of Mexico, Mo. He was principal of Fayetteville Collegiate institute, Fayetteville, Tenn., 1890-93, and 1897-99 ; president of West Tennessee col- lege. Dyer, Tenn., 1899-1903, and was elected chancellor of the American university at Harri- man, Tenn.. in 1903. He vvas active as a tem- perance and prohibition speaker ; was a member of the executive committee of the Proliibition party from 1893 ; chairman of the state Prohibi- tion committee from 1894, and secretary of the executive committee of the Prohibition party from 1900.

TATTNALL, Josiah, governor of Georgia, was born at Bonaventure, Ga., in 1763. His father and grandfather were royalists, and went to Nas- sau, N.P., and thence to England at the out- break of the Revolutionary war, in consequence •of which their estates were confiscated. Josiah ran away from England in 1780 and returned to Georgia, where he joined Gen. Anthony Wayne's army, and for his services in the war against the Indians, a portion of his father's estate was re- turned to him. He was captain of artillery, 1793-93 ; colonel of a regiment of state militia, 1793-1800, and was promoted brigadier-general in 1800. He was a representative in the state legis- lature, 1795-96; U.S. senator. 1795-99, having been elected to complete the term of James Jackson, who resigned in 1795, Senator Tattnall taking his seat, April 13, 1795, and completing the term March 3, 1799 ; and was elected seventh governor of Georgia to succeed David Emanuel, in 1803. He died at Nassua, N.P., where he had gone for the benefit of his health, June 6, 1803.

TATTNALL, Josiah, naval officer, was born in Bonaventure, Ga., Nov. 9, 1795 ; son of Gov. Josiah Tattnall (q. v. ) . He received his academic education in England, 1805-11, and was war- ranted a midshipman in the U.S. navy, Jan. 1, 1812. He served in the seamen's battery on Craney island during the war of 1813 and took part in the battle of Bladensburg. Md. He was attached to the squadron under Stephen Decatur in 1815 ; took part in the Barbary war, and was promoted lieutenant, April 1, 1818. He was at- tached to the frigate Macedonian, on the Pacific squadron, 1818-81 ; the schooner Jackal, of the " Mosquito fleet ", 1833-34 ; and to the sloop Erie in the West Indies. 1838-39, when he cut out the Spanish cruiser Federal. He was in charge of the Tortugas reef survey in August, 1839, and


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while in command of the schooner Grampus in the West Indies, he captured the Mexican schooner Montezuvia and protected American commerce in those waters in 1831-32, He was on ordnance and coast survey duty and in 1835 commanded the bark Pioneer and conveyed Gen. Santa Anna to Vera Cruz, Mex. He was promoted com- mander, Feb. 25, 1838 ; commanded at the Boston navy yard, 1838-43 ; and upon the outbreak of the war with Mexico commanded the Mos- quito division. He assisted in the bom- bardment of Vera Cruz ; led the at- tack on the forts

at Tuspan, where he was severely wounded, and was promoted captain, Feb. 5, 1850. He com- manded the steamer Saranac during the Cuban insurrection and was appointed flag officer of the Asiatic station. On his arrival at China. England and France were at war with that nation. He violated the neutrality of the United States and took part in an attack against the Chinese, giving for his explanation, that " blood is tliicker than water." He was upheld by press and public, and also by the U.S. government. He resigned his commission, Feb. 20, 1861 ; joined the Con- federate navy, and was commissioned senior flag- officer, Feb. 28, 1861. He was promoted captain in March, 1861, and commanded a force in de- fence of Port Royal, Nov. 7, 1861. He succeeded Franklin Buchanan in the command of the iron- clad Merrimac. in IMarcIi, 1862, and set out for Hampton Roads, April 11, 1863. On the siu-ren- der of Norfolk and the navy yard, in May, 1863, he destroyed the Merrimac to prevent her capture and returned to the command of the naval forces in Georgia. A court of inquiry held to investigate the destruction of the Merrimac. censured him for not attacking the Federal fleet, but a regular court-martsal held in Richmond. Va., July 5, 1863, exonerated him. In January. 1865, he was compelled to destroy his entire fleet in the Savannah river and went to Augusta, Ga., where he surrendered with Gen. Joseph E. Johns- ton's army. On June 13, 1866, he removed to Halifax. Nova Scotia, but returned in 1870, and was appointed inspector of the port of Savannah, Jan. 5, 1870. He died in Savannah, Ga., Nov. 9, June 14. 1871.

TAUSSIG, Edward David, naval officer, was born in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 20, 1847; son of