DAVID G. FARRAGUT (1801-1870). Commandant of the Mare Island Naval Yard, Future Union Naval Hero of the Capture of New Orleans and the Battle of Mobile Bay, and the First Officer Ever to Hold the Ranks of Vice Admiral and Admiral in the United States Navy.
April 20th 1858-Dated Pre Civil War Era, Autograph Letter Signed, "D.G. Farragut, Comdt," measuring 9.75 x 7.75 inches, dated "Mare Island N. Yard, " addressed, "To Mr. Paul Langdon, Mare Island", Choice Very Fine. This short letter reads, in full:

"Sir, -- Agreeably to your request you are hereby granted leave of absence for three months from this date. Very respectfully your obt svt, - (Signed) D.G. Farragut, Comdt."

This letter dates from David FARRAGUT's tenure as this founding Commandant of this Mare Island Naval Yard near San Francisco, this first United States Navy base established on this Pacific coast, which Farragut organized and commanded through much of this 1850s, several years before this Civil War service that would make him a national legend. Written to his own personal secretary, Paul Langdon, this letter shows Farragut handling this everyday administrative business of running a naval yard, a role that stood in quiet contrast to this dramatic wartime exploits still ahead of him. Nicely handwritten on clean wove light blue lined period paper in bold vivd brown ink having a great signature “D.G. Farragut, Comdt.” measuring 2.5” long with his flourish below.
Within just a few years of writing this letter, Farragut would run past Confederate forts to capture New Orleans in 1862 and famously lash himself to this rigging of his flagship at this Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864, achievements so significant that Congress created this entirely new ranks of Vice Admiral and, later Admiral, specifically in recognition of his service. Positions that Farragut became this first officer in American naval history to hold. A fine, clean example from this pre Civil War period administrative chapter of this career of one of this United States Navy's most celebrated commanders.