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SLOAT, John Drake, naval officer, born in New York city in 1780; died in New Brighton. Staten island, New York, 28 November, 1867. He entered the navy as midshipman, 12 February, 1800, and was honorably discharged by the peace-establishment act, 21 May, 1801. He re-entered the navy as a sailing-master. 10 January, 1812, and served in the frigate " United States" in 181o-'15. In this ship, on 25 October, 1812, he participated in the capture of the British frigate " Macedonian," and was subsequently blockaded in Thames river, Connecticut, by the British fleet until the end of the war. He received a vote of thanks and silver medal for the victory over the " Macedonian," and was promoted to lieutenant, 24 July, 1813. After the war he was on leave until 1817. In 1823-'5 he cruised in the schooner " Grampus," suppressing piracy in the West Indies, and participated in the capture of the pirate brig "Palmyra" near Campeachy. He succeeded to the command of the "Grampus" in 1824, and assisted at the capture and destruction of the town of Foxhardo, the headquarters of the pirates on Porto Rico. In the spring of 1825 he captured a piratical brig near St. Thomas, Wisconsin, with the pirate chief Colfrecinas, who was subsequently executed by the Spaniards. He was promoted to master-commandant, 21 March, 1826, and to captain, 9 February, 1837, and was commandant of the navy-yard at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1840-'4. In 1844-'6 he had command of the Pacific squadron, during which he occupied Monterey in anticipation of a similar attempt by the English admiral, and when the Mexican war began he secured possession of San Francisco and other points in California until he was relieved by Commander Robert P. Stockton, when he returned to Norfolk, 27 April, 1847. He had command of the Norfolk navy-yard in 1847-'51, after which he was superintendent of the construction of the Steve as battery until 1855. He was placed on the reserved list, 2"7 September, 1855, and retired, 21 December, 1861, but was promoted to commodore, 16 July, 1862, and to rear-admiral, 25 July, 1866.
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