FOSTER, James P., naval officer, born in Bullitt County, Kentucky, 8 June 1827; died in Indianapolis, Indiana, 2 June 1869. He removed with his family, in childhood, to Bloomington, Indiana, and entered the navy in 1846. He had reached the rank of lieutenant in 1861, and in July 1862, was commissioned a lieutenant commander, and in October of the same year was ordered to the Mississippi squadron, commanded by Admiral Porter. He was placed in command of the " Neosho," from which he was soon transferred to the ironclad ram "Chillicothe," and in March 1863, distinguished himself by the valuable service performed by his vessel during the Yazoo expedition. Later in the year he was placed in command of the gunboat "Lafayette," and rendered valuable assistance during the bombardment and siege of Vicksburg. After the war he was ordered to the naval academy, and placed in charge of the training ships. He was then promoted to commander, ordered to the "Osceola," and joined the Brazilian squadron, where he contracted the disease from which he died.