STEEDMAN, Charles, naval officer, born in Charleston, South Carolina, 24 September, 1811. He entered the navy as midshipman, 1 April, 1828, became a passed midshipman, 14 January, 1834, and cruised in the Mediterranean in the frigates "Constitution" and "United States." He was promoted to lieutenant, 25 February, 1841, and during the Mexican war served in the sloop "St. Mary's" in 1846-'7. At the bombardment of Vera Cruz he commanded the siege-guns in the naval battery on shore, and he participated in other operations on the coast and in the boat expedition that captured Tampico. He was commissioned commander, 14 September, 18,55, and in the Paraguay expedition commanded the brig " Dolphin." Notwithstanding the efforts of his family and friends in his native state to induce him to join the seceded states, he remained loyal and rendered valuable service to the Union. He immediately asked for duty, took command of the railroad ferry steamer " Maryland," and conveyed General Benjamin F. Butler with the 8th Massachusetts regiment from Havre de Grace to Annapolis, Maryland, in April, 1861. He then went to the west temporarily and assisted Admiral Foote in organizing the naval forces that operated on the Mississippi river in the gun-boats. In September, 1861, he commanded the steamer "Bienville," in which he led the second column of vessels at the capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, and participated in operations on the coast of Georgia and Florida. He returned north in the spring, and took command of the steamer" Paul Jones," in which he assisted in the capture of Fort McAllister, on Ogeechee river, in August, 1862, and operated on St. John's river, Florida, during the following month. He was promoted to captain, 13 September, 1862, and in the steamer "Powhatan" took part in the blockade off Charleston and in several engagements there. He then towed the captured ram "Atlanta" to Philadelphia, took command of the steamer "Ticonderoga," and went to the coast of Brazil in pursuit of the Confederate cruiser "Florida" until November, 1864. He participated in the two attacks on Fort Fisher, remained in command of the " Ticonderoga" on a cruise in the Mediterranean, and returned in command of the steam frigate "Colorado" in September, 1867. He was promoted to commodore, 25 July, 1866, and was in charge of the Boston navy-yard in 1869-'72. He was made a rear-admiral, 25 May, 1871, and retired, 24 September, 1873.