172 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



ill health, was placed in charge of the Squadron. He made 

 extensive explorations and deep-sea soundings in the northern 

 waters, and obtained valuable knowledge of the surrounding 

 territory. Nearly forty sea charts were based on these surveys. 



During the Civil War, Commander Rodgers performed 

 arduous and gallant service in southern waters. He was made 

 captain in 1862 and given command of the JVeehaivken, one of 

 the new monitors, which headed the line in the attack on Fort 

 Sumter, April 7, 1863. For his bravery in the engagement with 

 the Atlanta, Secretary Welles recommended that he be promoted 

 to the rank of commodore, and receive the thanks of Congress. 

 After the War, when in command of the Squadron which con- 

 voyed the monitor Monadnock to San Francisco, Commodore 

 Rodgers so guarded the American interests, during the hostilities 

 between the South American Republics and Spain, especially in 

 the threatened bombardment of Valparaiso, that he received 

 special commendation of the Navy Department. 



From 1866 to 1869, Commodore Rodgers was in charge of 

 the Boston Navy Yard, and in the latter year promoted to the 

 grade of rear-admiral. Ordered to the command of the Asiatic 

 Squadron, Admiral Rodgers, sailed in 1871 to Corea, where in 

 consequence of treachery five forts were taken and destroyed. 



In 1872 Rodgers became President of the Naval Examining 

 and Retiring Board, and after four years of service at the Navy 

 Yard at Mare Island, he was appointed Superintendent of the 

 Naval Observatory in Washington. By his advice, a site on 

 Georgetown Heights was bought for a new observatory, but 

 the building was not completed until after his death. He was 

 successful in obtaining from Congress an appropriation of $1000 

 a year for the purchase of new books, by means of which he 

 formed one of the best astronomical and mathematical libraries 

 in the country. 



Added to his duties at the observatory, Admiral Rodgers was 

 called upon for extra service as President of the Transit of 

 Venus Commission, of the Naval Advisory Board, of the 

 Jeannette Relief Board, and as chairman of the Lighthouse 



