Naval History and Heritage Command

David G. Farragut is born near Knoxville, Tenn. Known for the quote, Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead during the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864, he is appointed vice admiral by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and is commissioned an admiral, the first-ever in the US Navy, by a Congressional Act in 1866.

The sloop-of-war, USS Peacock, captures British vessels HMS Stranger, HMS Venus, HMS Adiona, and HMS Fortitude.

Hawaiian bark Gambia, commanded by Capt. N.C. Brooks, discovers the Midway Islands. The islands are named "Middlebrook Islands." On Aug. 28, 1867, Capt. William Reynolds of the USS Lackawanna takes possession of the atoll for the U.S., making Midway the first offshore islands annexed by the U.S. government.

The Navy Department is reorganized by act of Congress.

USS Growler (SS 215) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese destroyer, Arare, in the Salmon Lagoon, off Kiska. In the attack, USS Growler damages destroyers Kasumi and Shiranui.

USS Thomas (DE 102) and USS Baker (DE 190) from Task Group 22.5, sink German minelayer submarine (U 233) off Halifax, Nova Scotia.