Captain JOHN A. WINSLOW (1811-1873). Commander of the Union Ship “USS Kearsarge” Which Sank the feared Confederate Raider Ship “CSS Alabama” on June 19th, 1864.
Choice quality rare Signed and Inscribed in dark brown ink this handsome Portrait Photograph of Admiral John A. Winslow in uniform facing left. His inscription on the verso reads:

“With the compliments of Jno. A. Winslow Rear Adm’l / U.S.N. for Doctor C. F. Winslow”

No date or place, yet accomplished between 1870-1873 and Imaged from 429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, Cal., measuring 5” x 3.5”, Choice Very Fine. Backstamp by Bradley & Rulofson, San Francisco. Boldly signed on the verso. Very rare as there are no “Signed Photographs” of Admiral John Winslow listed in either American Book Prices Current, nor in Sanders and highly desirable. Dr. Charles Frederick Winslow (1811-1877) was a prominent 19th-century American physician, diplomat, author, and scientist, a well-educated man, well-versed in astronomy and was employed by the U. S. State Department. After his death, he was cremated in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 31, 1877, the second recorded cremation in U.S. history.

Winslow was a captain in the Union Navy in April 1863 when he took command of the USS Kearsarge. For a year and a half, he patrolled European waters searching for Confederate ships. On June 19, 1864, his victory over the CSS Alabama Raider became on of the most famous battles of the Civil War. Winslow was promoted to the rank of Commodore as a result of his victory. He became Rear Admiral in 1870 and commanded the Pacific Squadron until 1872. He died in 1873, soon after his retirement.

Provenance: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II.
Rear Admiral John A. Winslow, USN (1811-1873)

John A. Winslow was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1811. He entered the Navy as a Midshipman in 1827, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1839 and to Commander in 1855.

During the Mexican-American War, he was commended to gallantry for his activities at Tobasco. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, Commander Winslow was assigned as Executive Officer of the Western Gunboat Flotilla. He was injured while commanding the incomplete Ironclad river gunboat “Benton” in the Fall of 1861, and spent several months recovering.

Promoted to Captain in July 1862, Winslow returned to the Mississippi area for further service, but was detached late in the year. He took Command of USS Kearsarge in April 1863. Over the next year and a half, Captain Winslow patrolled European waters in search of Confederate Raiders, keeping his ship and crew well-prepared for combat.

On June 19th, 1864, he led his Ship and crew to victory in one of the Civil War's most notable naval actions, the Battle between USS Kearsarge and CSS Alabama.

Winslow was promoted to the rank of Commodore as a result of this action. He became a Rear Admiral in 1870 and commanded the Pacific Squadron from then until 1872. Rear Admiral John A. Winslow died on 29 September 1873, soon after retiring from active naval service.

Several U.S. Navy ships have been named in his honor, including Winslow (Torpedo Boat # 5) of 1897-1911, Winslow (Destroyer # 53) of 1915-1936, and Winslow (DD-359, later AG-127) of 1937-1959.