RITCHIE, Robert, naval officer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 21 January, 1798 ; died there, 6 July, 1870. He entered the navy as midshipman, 1 February, 1814, and cruised in the sloop " Peacock," in the Mediterranean squadron, in 1814-'18, and in the "Guerriere," on the same station in 1819-'20. In 1821-'2 he was attached to the Philadelphia navy-yard. He served in Commander Porter's "mosquito fleet" for the suppression of piracy in the West Indies in 1823-'4, in 1827 was in the "Grampus" on the West India station, and was commissioned lieutenant, 13 January, 1825. In 1830 he was on surveying duty. He cruised in the frigate "Java," on the Mediterranean station, in 1830-'1, and commanded the schooner "Grampus" in a cruise in the West Indies in 1833-'5. He was commissioned commander, 8 September, 1841, assigned to the frigate "Columbia," on the Brazil station, in 1845, and attached to the Philadelphia navy-yard in 1848-'51. On 13 September, 1855, he was placed on the reserved list, but he was restored to the active list, and commissioned captain, 14 September, 1855. He was on leave until August, 1859, when he took command of the steamer "Saranac," in the Pacific squadron, until March, 1862. He was retired 21 December, 1861, and after his return from the last cruise in the Pacific resided at Philadelphia. He was pronounced to commodore on the retired list, 4 April, 1867.