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LCDR Edwin Jesse DeHaven
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Edwin Jesse DeHaven |
LCDR Edwin Jesse DeHaven became a well known explorer through his wide
travels and expeditions. Appointed Midshipman on 3 Oct. 1829, he was
commissioned Lieutenant on 8 Sept. 1841. His early service was recorded in
the West Indies and in South America onboard the ships NATCHES, ERIE, and
the LEXINGTON. After a tour of shore duty in New York and Baltimore, Lt.
DeHaven was transferred to the FALMOUTH in the Pacific and in 1839 to the
USS VINCENNES, flagship of the U.S. Exploration Expedition under Charles
Wilkes. On this vessel, Lt. DeHaven made his cruise to the Atlantic and
among the Pacific Islands. He was transferred to the USS PEACOCK in
October 1840, which continued with the expedition in surveying portions of
the Pacific and the North American Court near Puget Sound. On 18 July
1841, the PEACOCK was wrecked in the mouth of the Columbia River, and
Lieutenant Commander DeHaven finished the cruise of the expedition on the
OREGON. During 1843 he served aboard USS TRUXTON and in January 1845 was
transferred to the USS SOMERS. The SOMERS was active in the Gulf of Mexico
during the early part of the trouble with Mexico, and participated in the
first expedition against Alvarado.
On 3 May 1850, LCDR DeHaven was placed in command of the Grinnell
Rescue Expedition to search for Sir John Franklin and to make further
scientific expeditions. Two ships of the expedition, the brigs ADVANCE and
RESCUE, were caught in the ice west of Greenland in September and drifted
for nine months. The Expedition failed to find Franklin, but discovered
and named Grinnell Land. Lieutenant Commander DeHaven retired on 6
February 1862, and died on 1 May 1865.
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