RANSOM, George Marcellus, naval officer, born in Springfield, Otsego County, New York, 18 January, 1820. He was educated in the common schools of New York and Ohio, entered the navy as a midshipman on 25 July, 1839, studied at tile naval school in Philadelphia, became a passed midshipman on 2 July, 1845, a master on 28 June, 1853, and a lieutenant on 21 February, 1854. He served on the coast of Africa in 1856-'7, was commissioned lieutenant-commander on 16 July, 1862, and, in command of the steam gun-boat "Kineo," of the Western Gulf blockading squadron, had several engagements with the enemy in March and April, 1862. He passed the forts Jackson and St. Philip in Farragut's fleet, engaged the ram "Manassas." and in May, 1862, a field-battery at Grand Gulf. He performed effective service in shelling General John C. Breckinridge's army at Baton Rouge, 5 August, 1862, and engaged a battery and a force of guerillas on 4 October He was promoted commander on 2 January, 1863, and served with the North Atlantic blockading squadron in command of the steamer "Grand Gulf" in 1864, and captured three steamers off Wilmington He was commissioned captain on 2 March, 1870, and commodore on 28 March, 1877, and was retired, 18 June, 1882.