Gideon Welles | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Welles c. 1855–1865 | |
| 24th United States Secretary of the Navy | |
| In office March 7, 1861 – March 4, 1869 | |
| President | Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson |
| Preceded by | Isaac Toucey |
| Succeeded by | Adolph E. Borie |
| Comptroller of Connecticut | |
| In office 1842–1844 | |
| Governor | Chauncey Fitch Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Henry Kilbourn |
| Succeeded by | Abijah Carrington |
| In office 1835–1836 | |
| Governor | Henry W. Edwards |
| Preceded by | Roger Huntington |
| Succeeded by | William Field |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 1, 1802 Glastonbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | February 11, 1878 (aged 75) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cedar Hill Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1848) Free Soil (1848–1854) Republican (1854–1878) |
| Spouse | Mary Jane Hale |
| Children | 8 |
| Education | Norwich University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Gideon Welles (July 1, 1802 – February 11, 1878), nicknamed "Father Neptune", was the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869, a cabinet post he was awarded after supporting Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election. Although opposed to the Union blockade of Southern ports, he duly carried out his part of the Anaconda Plan, largely sealing off the Confederate coastline and preventing the exchange of cotton for war supplies. This is viewed as a major cause of Union victory in the Civil War, and his achievement in expanding the Navy almost tenfold was widely praised. Welles was also instrumental in the Navy's creation of the Medal of Honor.