BUCHANAN, 11A-kAn'an, FRANKLIN (1800 74). An American naval officer, prominent in the Confederate service during the Civil War, born in Baltimore, Md. Ile entered the United States Navy at the age of fifteen; became a lieu tenant in 1825, and in 1841 was promoted to the rank of master-commandant. In 1845 he organ ized the United States Naval Academy at An napolis under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, and for two years acted as its first superintendent. He then served in the Mexican War, commanding time Germantown during the siege of Vera Cruz, and in 1S52-53 commanded Commodore ferry's flagship, the Susquehanna, in that officer's famous expedition to Japan. lle was promoted to be captain in 1855, and was placed in command of time Washington Navy Yard in 1859, but in 1861 (April 22) he resigned on the assumption that his State would soon secede from the Union. Maryland remained loyal, however, and he asked to be restored, but his request was refused by Secretary of the Navy Welles, and in September, 1861, he received a captain's commission in the Confederate Navy.
He commanded the Merrimac in the attack upon the Federal fleet in Hampton Roads, and was severely wounded. Soon afterwards he was promoted to the rank of admiral, and for sonic time was senior officer in the Confederate Navy.
In 1S63 he became commander of the naval defenses of Mobile, Ala., and in this capacity constructed the iron-clad ram Tennessee. In August, 1864, lie commanded the Confederate fleet in Mobile Bay, so thoroughly defeated by Farragut (see MOBILE BAY and FARRAGUT, DAVID GLASGOW), and on this occasion lost a leg and was taken prisoner, though lie was soon after wards exchanged. After the war lie was for sonic time president of the Maryland Agricultural Col lege.