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{{Refimprove|date=June 2008}} {{Infobox military person |name= William Nicholson Jeffers |born= {{Birth date|1824|10|6}} |died = {{death date|1883|7|23|1824|10|6}} |placeofbirth= [[Swedesboro, New Jersey|Swedesboro]], [[New Jersey]] |placeofdeath= [[Washington, D.C.]] |placeofburial= [[United States Naval Academy]], [[Annapolis, Maryland]] |placeofburial_label= Place of burial |image= [[File:William Nicholson Jeffers NH 60824.jpg|200px]] |caption= William Jeffers |nickname= |allegiance= [[United States|United States of America]]<br/>[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] |branch= [[United States Navy]]<br/>[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]]<br/>[[United States Army]] |serviceyears= September 23, 1840-probably 1881 |rank= [[Commodore (United States)|Commodore]] |commands= [[USS Philadelphia (1861)]]<br/>[[USS Roanoke (1855)]]<br/>[[USS Underwriter (1861)]] |unit= |battles= [[American Civil War]]<br/>[[Mexican-American War]] |awards= |laterwork= }} Commodore '''William Nicholson Jeffers''' (6 October 1824 – 23 July 1883) was a U.S. Navy officer of the 19th century. He took part in combat operations during the [[Mexican-American War]] and the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], and during the 1870s and early 1880s served as Chief of the [[Bureau of Ordnance]]. ==Early life and career== Jeffers was born in [[Swedesboro, New Jersey]], and was appointed midshipman 23 September 1840. His early service was in frigates [[USS Congress (1841)|''Congress'']] and [[USS United States (1797)|''United States'']], and during the [[Mexican-American War]] he took part in the attack on Alvarado, the capture of Tobasco, and the bombardment of Vera Cruz. In the 1850s he was engaged in numerous expeditions to [[Central America]], and was responsible for a preliminary survey of the isthmus of [[Honduras]]. ==Civil War== During the early months of the Civil War, Jeffers commanded [[USS Philadelphia (1861)|''Philadelphia'']] in the [[Potomac River]] and served in frigate [[USS Roanoke (1855)|''Roanoke'']] off Charleston and Hatteras Inlet. In December 1861 he took command of [[USS Underwriter|''Underwriter'']] and soon afterward took part in the capture of [[Roanoke Island]] and the destruction of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] squadron at [[Elizabeth City]]. After the wounding of Captain [[John Lorimer Worden]] of [[USS Monitor|USS ''Monitor'']] during her historic engagement with Virginia, Jeffers commanded her, taking part mainly in shore bombardment in the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]]. For the remainder of the war he was on ordnance duty in Philadelphia and Washington. ==Post-war career== Jeffers commanded [[USS Swatara (1872)|''Swatara'']] in the Mediterranean and in African waters, and in 1873 was made Chief of the [[Bureau of Ordnance]]. [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]] Jeffers served in this capacity for eight years and contributed much to the science and literature of [[Naval artillery|naval ordnance]]. He died at Washington 23 July 1883, and was buried in the cemetery of the [[United States Naval Academy]] in [[Annapolis, Maryland]]. ==Namesake== The destroyer [[USS Jeffers (DD-621)|USS ''Jeffers'' (DD-621)]] was named in his honor. ==External links and resources== * [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j2/jeffers.htm history.navy.mil: USS ''Jeffers''] *{{findagrave|14010823}} Retrieved on 2008-03-28 ==Notes== :{{DANFS}} {{Persondata |NAME= Jeffers, William Nicholson |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy officer |DATE OF BIRTH= 6 October 1824 |PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Swedesboro, New Jersey]] |DATE OF DEATH= 23 July 1883 |PLACE OF DEATH= [[Washington, D.C.]] }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Jeffers, William Nicholson}} [[Category:1824 births]] [[Category:1883 deaths]] [[Category:Union Navy officers]] [[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Mexican–American War]] [[Category:People from Gloucester County, New Jersey]] [[Category:United States Navy officers]] [[Category:People of New Jersey in the American Civil War]]
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