SIMPSON, Edward, naval officer, born in New York city, 3 March, 1824. He entered the navy as midshipman, 11 February, 1840, was in the first class that was attached to the naval academy in 1845-'6, and was graduated at Annapolis in the latter year. During the Mexican war he was attached to the steamer "Vixen," in which he participated in various engagements, including the bombardment and capture of Vera Cruz. He served on the coast survey, 1848-'50, in the brig "Washington" and steamers "Vixen" and "Legare." In 1850-'3 he cruised in the frigate "Congress." on the Brazil station, as acting master, and in 1853-'4 he was attached to the naval academy as assistant instructor in naval gunnery and infantry tactics. He was promoted to master, 10 July, 1854, and to lieutenant, 18 April, 1855, and served in the sloop "Portsmouth" in the East India squadron, 1856-'8, participating in the capture of the Barrier forts near Canton, China. He went to the naval academy upon his return, and was in charge of the department of naval gunnery in 1858-'62, and commandant of midshipmen in 1862-'3. He was commissioned lieutenant-commander, 16 July, 1862, and in the monitor "Passaic," off Charleston, in 1863-'4, participated in various engagements. He was commissioned commander, 3 March, 1865, and served as fleet-captain of the consolidated Gulf squadron, being present at the fall of Mobile and receiving the surrender of the Confederate fleet on Tombigbee river. He was commissioned captain, 15 August, 1870, and went on a special naval mission to Europe in 1870-'2. He was in charge of the torpedo station at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1873-'5, was commandant of the New London naval station in 1878-'80, and of the Philadelphia League island navy-yard in 1880-'4. He was promoted to commodore, 26 April, 1878, and to rear-admiral, 9 February, 1884, and placed on the retired list, 3 March, 1886. Admiral Simpson was president of the United States naval institute in 1886-'8, and is the senior member of the Naval academy graduates association. He has devoted himself to the scientific development of the navy, especially in the science of gunnery and torpedoes Besides articles in magazines on professional subjects, he has published "Ordnance and Naval Gunnery," which was the text-book at the naval academy until 1868 (New York, 1862); "The Naval Mission to Europe" (2 vols., Washington, 1873); and " Report of the Gun-Foundry Board" (1885). Several of his articles are republished in "Modern Ships of War" (New York, 1887).