Ralph Chandler, USN-- Part 2: Among the First At USNA

From Wikipedia.

RALPH CHANDLER  (23 August  1829-- 9 February 1889)

Was a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy .  He saw action in the Mexican War and the Civil War and later served as commander of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron.

Born in Batavia, New York and  joined the Navy as a midshipman  17 September 1845 and was sent to the Naval Academy.  (The USNA was established October  10, 1845, so he would have been one of the very first classes to attend it.)

After graduation, he was assigned to the USS Independence, flagship of the U.S. Pacific Squadron where he took part in operations during the Mexican War and was involved in two engagements near Mazatlan.

Then he served on the sloop Vincennes 1849-1850 and  promoted to Passed midshipman in 1851.  Then, a tour of duty  at the Naval Academy in 1852 and service aboard the sloop St. Louis in the Mediterranean Sea until 1855 when he was promoted to master and then lieutenant.

--Old B-Runner