▁served ▁as ▁an ▁officer ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Navy ▁and ▁Commander - in - Ch ief ▁of ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Squadron ▁in ▁the ▁Mexican – American ▁War ▁and ▁the ▁American ▁Civil ▁War , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁Super int endent ▁of ▁the ▁Naval ▁Academy ▁and ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Naval ▁Institute . ▁ ▁Matthew ▁Cal bra ith ▁Butler , ▁who ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁March ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 8 3 6 ▁at ▁E agle ' s ▁C rag ▁near ▁Green ville , ▁South ▁Carolina , ▁was ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁U . S . ▁Congress man ▁William ▁Butler ▁and ▁Jane ▁Twe edy ▁Perry . ▁Butler ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁major ▁general ▁in ▁the ▁Confeder ate ▁States ▁Army ▁during ▁the ▁American ▁Civil ▁War , ▁post bell um ▁three - term ▁United ▁States ▁Democratic ▁Senator ▁from ▁South ▁Carolina , ▁and ▁a ▁major ▁general ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁during ▁the ▁Spanish – American ▁War . ▁ ▁The ▁G ild ed ▁Age ▁and ▁The ▁Bel mont ▁Branch ▁ ▁On ▁November ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 8 4 9 , ▁August ▁Bel mont ▁Sr . ▁married ▁Caroline ▁Sl id ell ▁Perry ▁( 1 8 2 9 – 1 8 9 2 ) ▁the ▁daughter ▁of ▁Matthew ▁Cal bra ith ▁Perry . ▁According ▁to ▁Jewish ▁newspaper ▁sources , ▁Bel mont ▁converted ▁to ▁Christian ity ▁at ▁that ▁time , ▁taking ▁his ▁wife ' s ▁Epis cop al ian / Ang lic an ▁faith . ▁T ogether , ▁they ▁were ▁the ▁parents ▁of ▁six ▁children , ▁with ▁all ▁of ▁his ▁surv iving