FOOTE, ANDREW HULL (1806-1863), American ad miral, was born at New Haven, Conn., Sept. 12, 18o6, his father, Samuel Augustus Foote (178o-1846), being a prominent lawyer and Whig politician, who as U.S. senator moved in 1829 "Foote's resolutions" on public lands, in the discussion of which Daniel Webster made his "reply to Hayne." He entered the U.S. navy in 1822, and was commissioned lieutenant in 183o. After cruising round the world (1837-40) in the "John Adams," he was assigned to the Philadelphia naval asylum, and later (1846-48) to the Boston navy yard. In 1849 he was made commander of the 'Perry," and engaged for two years in suppressing the slave trade on the African coast. In 1856, as commander of the "Portsmouth," he served on the East India station, under Commander James Armstrong, and he captured the Barrier Forts near Canton. From Oct. 1858 to the outbreak of the Civil War, he was in charge of the Brooklyn navy yard, becoming a full captain in 1861. In Aug. 1861 he was assigned to the command "of the naval operations upon the Western waters." His exploit in capturing Ft. Henry (on the right bank of the Tennessee river) from the Confederates, on Feb. 6, 1862, without the co-operation of Gen. Grant's land forces, who had not arrived in time, was a brilliant success ; but their com bined attack on Ft. Donelson (12 m. off, on the left bank of the Cumberland river), whither most of the Ft. Henry garrison had escaped, resulted, before its surrender (Feb. 16) , in heavy losses to Foote's gunboats, Foote himself being severely wounded. In March—April he co-operated in the capture of New Madrid (q.v.) and Island No. io. In June he retired from his command and in July was promoted rear-admiral, and became chief of the bureau of equipment and recruiting. On June 26, 1863 he died at New York.
See the Life (1874) by Professor James Mason Hoppin