Born in 1809, John Adolphus Dahlgren became a Midshipman in 1826. In 1847 he organized an ordnance workshop at the Washington Navy Yard, which later became the Naval Gun Factory. He later developed a howitzer widely used in the Civil War, and designed the famous Dahlgren Gun. In 1850 he urged construction of frigates armed entirely with heavy guns, anticipating the dreadnoughts of the next century. He later published several significant and widely-read works on ordnance. When the Civil War began, he took command of the Washington Navy Yard on President Lincoln's recommend- ation. He became a close friend and advisor of Lincoln, who relied greatly on his technical judgment. In 1862 he became Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance; in 1863, after a vote of appreciation by from Congress, he became a Rear Admiral. Commanding the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron from 1863 to 1865, he participated in the bombardment of Fort Wagner and successfully commanded the naval forces in the 2-year siege of Charleston. He also supported General W.T. Sherman in his capture of Savannah. He commanded the South Pacific Squadron from 1866 to 1868, then again became Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. A year later he assumed command of the Washington Navy Yard once more. Rear Admiral Dahlgren died in 1870.

Rightly called the "father of naval ordnance" he revolutionized the science of ordnance with original work and set a standard for other navies. His technical genius made a major contribution to victory in the Civil War. A blue-water sailor as well as a scientist, Admiral Dahlgren brilliantly commanded a powerful naval force through 2 years of arduous wartime service, leaving behind him an example of productive study and gallantry in action.

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