Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
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Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
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57k | Kidder Randolph Breese was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 14 April 1831. He was appointed a U.S. Navy Midshipman in November 1847 and served in the sloop of war Saratoga during the remainder of the war with Mexico. Sea duty continued until October 1852, when he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy to prepare for examination. Warranted a Passed Midshipman in June 1852, Breese took part in the Commodore Matthew C. Perry's expedition to Japan for the next three years. In mid-1855, while serving with the U.S. Coast Survey, he was promoted to the ranks of Master and Lieutenant. He served in the sloop of war Preble in 1858 and 1859, during the Paraguay Expedition and off Panama. Lieutenant Breese's next duties were as an officer of the sloop of war Portsmouth, off Africa, in 1860, and of the steamer San Jacinto from mid-1860 until late 1861. While he was in San Jacinto, the Civil War began. He was present when she stopped the British steamship Trent and removed two Confederate agents, an incident that provoked a brief crisis in U.S. relations with Great Britain. From late 1861 Breese commanded part of the flotilla of mortar schooners that helped capture New Orleans in April 1862. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in mid-1862, he served with Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter on the Mississippi River and off the Atlantic Coast for most of the rest of the conflict, distinguishing himself during the seige of Vicksburg, in the land assault on Fort Fisher, and as Porter's Fleet Captain. Beginning in September 1865, Breese spent a year as Assistant to the Naval Academy's Superintendent, achieving the rank of Commander while in that post. During the later 1860s and into 1870 he served on Navy boards and had ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C.. In 1870-1872 he commanded the steam sloop Plymouth in European waters. He was Inspector of Ordnance at New Orleans for several months in 1872-1873, followed by two years as Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy and as Inspector of Hydrography. Breese was promoted to Captain in 1874. From mid-1875 until early 1879 he commanded the Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island, and had special ordnance duty. He was Commanding Officer of the steam sloop Pensacola, Pacific Station flagship, in 1879 and 1880 and, in 1881, was a member of the Board of Harbor Commissioners. Captain Kidder Breese died at Newport, Rhode Island, on 13 September 1881. Photo #: NH 92565. Lieutenant Kidder R. Breese, USN, "Carte de Visite" photograph, probably taken circa 1861-1862. He was serving in USS San Jacinto during the November 1861 Trent incident. Breese held the rank of Lieutenant between 1855 and 1862. Collection of Captain A.L. Clifton, USN (Medical Corps), 1939. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Bill Gonyo | |
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22k | Undated, location unknown. | Paul Rebold | |
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74k | Early 1920's, location unknown. | Joe Radigan | |
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129k | San Diego, CA circa 1920, USS Radford (DD-120), USS Sproston (DD-173), USS Breese (DD-122), USS Badger (DD-126) and USS Montgomery (DD-121). Naval Historical Center photo NH50241. | Daniel Dunham | |
| 138k | Destroyers refitting at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California View taken circa 1921-22. Many of these ships are being modified to place the after 4"/50 gun atop an enlarged after deckhouse. Ships present include (listed from the foreground): USS Lamberton (DD-119); unidentified destroyer; USS Breese (DD-122); USS Radford (DD-120); unidentified destroyer; USS Elliot (DD-146); USS Tarbell (DD-142); USS Yarnall (DD-143); USS Delphy (DD-261); USS McFarland (DD-237); USS Litchfield (DD-336); USS Kennison (DD-138); USS Lea (DD-118); and two unidentified destroyers. Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN (MC), 1932. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Fred Weiss | |
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115k | Seen here as DM-18, Underway. Undated. | - | |
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
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