Edward Simpson

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For the Australian mineralogist, see Edward Sydney Simpson

Rear Admiral Edward Simpson, USN (3 March 1824 – 1 December 1888) was an officer in the United States Navy, whose service included the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.

Born in New York City, Simpson was appointed midshipman in the United States Navy in February 1840. He served afloat until late 1845, when he became a member of the first class of midshipmen to be trained at the new Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. After graduation on 9 July 1846, Simpson reported to Vixen and participated in numerous bombardments during the Mexican-American War. During the next 15 years, he served afloat in the Brazil and China squadrons and with the Coast Survey, and ashore in two tours at the Naval Academy: first as gunnery instructor, then in 1860 as head of the department of ordnance and gunnery. Finally, he became Commandant of Midshipmen in 1862.

During the American Civil War, Simpson took command of the monitor, Passaic, in June 1863. He participated in bombardments at Charleston, South Carolina from July to November 1863. From July to December 1864, he commanded Isonomia in the East Gulf Blockading Squadron; and, then served from February to April 1865 as Fleet Captain of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and of the forces attacking Mobile, Alabama.

After the war, he alternated tours of command ashore and afloat with tours of ordnance duty, including a mission to Europe in 1870-72, and command of the torpedo station in 1873 and again in 1874-75. In 1883, he was appointed president of a board to select a site for a government gun factory and made another study trip to Europe.

Promoted to Rear Admiral on 9 February 1884, he served as President of the Naval Advisory Board and President of the Board of Inspection and Survey until his retirement on 3 March 1886.

Rear Admiral Simpson died in Washington, D.C.

The destroyer Simpson (DD-221) was named for him.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.