Bancroft Gherardi (November 10, 1832 – December 10, 1903) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who served during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. Even though his family hailed from French Corsica, because of his Italian surname (typical of Corsicans) he had the distinction of being the first Italian-American admiral in the United States Navy. Biography Gherardi was born in Jackson, Louisiana, the son of Donato Gherardi (c. 1800 – 1851), a political refugee from Corsica, and Jane Putnam Bancroft (1798–1843), sister of renowned historian George Bancroft. He was appointed Acting Midshipman June 26, 1846 and served on the during the Mexican–American War. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1851 and graduated the next year. Ordered to the , he cruised the Mediterranean, and after promotion to lieutenant in 1855 he was ordered to the . At the outbreak of the American Civil War he served in the steam sloop and later became the executive officer of the in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He commanded the gunboats and , and was commended for his conduct in the Battle of Mobile Bay under Admiral David Farragut on August 5, 1864. In later years he commanded receiving ships and , and was present at the bombardment of Alexandria, Egypt, in 1882. He served as President of the Naval Examining Board, as Governor of the Philadelphia Naval Asylum, and as Commandant of the New York Navy Yard. He was promoted to rear admiral on August 25, 1887. In 1893 he was made Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Review Fleet on the Hudson River and then commandant of the New York Navy Yard. He retired from the Navy on November 10, 1894, and died at his home in Stratford, Connecticut on December 10, 1903. He is buried with his wife at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery. Family Electrical engineer Bancroft Gherardi, Jr. was his son; Assemblyman Gherardi Davis (1858–1941) was his nephew. Legacy The destroyer , launched in 1942, was named in his honor. References External links navsource.org: USS Gherardi 1832 births 1903 deaths United States Naval Academy alumni American military personnel of the Mexican–American War Members of the Aztec Club of 1847 United States Navy rear admirals People of Connecticut in the American Civil War Union Navy officers Military personnel from Connecticut American people of Corsican descent People from Jackson, Louisiana Burials at the United States