Frederick Crocker

Frederick Crocker
Born	April 7, 1821 Brockton, Massachusetts, United States
Died	February 3, 1911(1911-02-03) (aged 89) Montevideo, Uruguay
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	Union Navy
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Lieutenant Commander
Commands	USS Kensington USS Clifton
Battles / wars	American Civil War First Battle of Sabine Pass Second Battle of Sabine Pass
Other work	US Consul at Montevideo (1876–1886) Marine insurance surveyor for Lloyd's of London and Bureau Veritas Journalist and political pundit

Frederick Crocker (1821–1911) was an American naval commander and US consul for the Union during the US Civil War.

Biography

Early life

Crocker was born in 1821 in Brockton, Massachusetts. Attracted by the adventure and opportunities of a life at sea, he joined a whaling company in New Bedford at 17.

Adult life

Crocker was captain of a whaling vessel at the age of 24. He hunted whales in the world's most remote waters, from Indonesia, to Hawaii and the Bering Sea for 13 years. Starting in 1851, he joined the American merchant marine serving as captain of a clipper ship, circumnavigating the globe between 1855-1857. By 1860, he had become captain and part owner of a luxurious passenger and cargo steamer, the R.R. Cuyler, which sailed along the East Coast of North America between New York City and Savannah, Georgia. For twenty years, he was associated with shipping mogul Edward Mott Robinson, father of Hetty Green, "the richest woman in America" during the Gilded Age.

Civil War

At age 40, Crocker volunteered for service in the Union Navy in the first weeks of the conflict. He served on the Mississippi and along the U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico and distinguished himself in battles and incidents at Apalachicola Bay, Sabine Pass, Calcasieu River, Camp Bisland and Butte-à-la-Rose, among others.

His service included a six-day, 80-mile dash through enemy-held Louisiana in October 1862. He and his party captured the senior Confederate officer in the Calcasieu area, gained possession of enemy vessels, destroyed a bridge and stores, and captured cotton bales. In recognition of his initiative, Rear-Admiral David G. Farragut recommended him for promotion.

Crocker is more known as the Union Navy commander who suffered an unexpected defeat at Sabine Pass, Texas, on September 8, 1863. While two of his squadron of gunboats attacked Fort Griffin head-on. over five thousand Union troops on twenty transport ships stood by. He was defeated and captured along with 300 men. The commanding Union General, who believed the entire expedition unwise, froze at the critical moment and then withdrew. The book Sabine Pass: The Confederacy's Thermopylae by Edward T. Cotham (2004) makes numerous references to Crocker for his actions during the naval blockade by the Union Navy.

Crocker spent 17 months as a prisoner of war, mainly at Camp Ford, in Tyler, Texas. As soon as he was freed, he attempted to obtain the release of all African American servicemen still held prisoners at Camp Ford. He was a devout believer in Emmanuel Swedenborg's doctrines, which were sympathetic with abolitionism.

Crocker ultimately rose to the rank of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Commander and was cited on three different accounts—gallantry, and meritorious and faithful services—making him the only U.S. Navy officer to win these three distinctions in the Civil War.

Post war

After the Civil War, Crocker resigned from the Navy. At 47 years of age and in weakened health due to his many months in prison camp, he decided to leave his home in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, with his wife and children. They started a new life in Uruguay.

While in Uruguay, for over two years (1876–79) he served as US Consul at Montevideo under the Grant administration. He continued to serve in the consulate until 1886. For 20 years, he was the marine insurance surveyor for both Lloyd's of London and Bureau Veritas (an American insurance company) in Montevideo. He was also a journalist for a British periodical and a political pundit in the Montevideo and Buenos Aires English-language newspapers.

In 1885, Crocker appeared before a US Congressional committee on trade. He predicted that Uruguay would one day stand among the world’s most advanced countries together with the US thanks to its forward-looking leaders, hardworking immigrants, and obligatory public education program.

Death

Crocker died in Montevideo at the age of 89 years, and his remains are buried in The British Cemetery. His son and two grandsons established an import company in Montevideo. His great-granddaughter, Fay Crocker, was an LPGA golfer and winner of two majors and holds several golf records.