became an apprentice in the pattern shop of the Novelty Iron Works. He 

 had great natural aptitude as a mechanic and engineer, soon became a skillful 

 pattern-maker, and was promoted to the draughting room when he was eigh- 

 teen. During his service in the draughting room, his talent as a designer had 

 opportunity for development, and he had made the designs for important 

 machinery before he was twenty-one, including the Pacific Mail Steamer 

 Constitution, tlie largest vessel of that line. One of his contemporaries, in 

 speaking of work done by him, credits him with designs for an overhung 

 cylinder for stationary engines years before it became a common thing, and 

 also the design of piston valves at an early date. He was also confidential 

 assistant to Mr. Horatio Allen, president of the Novelty Works, making 

 drawings, models, etc., for inventions and experiments. 



While he was at the Novelty Iron Works they were building certain 

 machinery under the supervision of Admiral Isherwood, then a chief engineer. 

 The latter was impressed with Magee's ability and advised him to enter the 

 Navy. Magee passed the entrance examination in November, 1860, and be- 

 fore the breaking out of the Civil War he entered the Navy as a third assist- 

 ant engineer, April 4, 1861. Incidentally, it may be remarked that this was 

 the beginning of a friendship with Admiral Isherwood which lasted unbroken 

 imtil the latter's death. 



Knowing Magee's ability as an engineer and designer, Isherwood, as 

 Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering, had him detailed to that bureau, 

 where he rendered excellent service in working out the designs of some of the 

 famous machinery which has become so well known to all engineers through 

 Isherwood's "Experimental Researches in Steam Engineering." His first 

 efforts were in connection with the completion of the designs for the machin- 

 ery of the Pensacola. He went to sea in that vessel and took part, under 

 Farragut, in the passage of the forts below New Orleans, April 24, 1862. 

 Later he resumed duty under Isherwood. 



Comtaiodore Magee served as an assistant engineer and as chief engineer 

 on numerous vessels of the Navy, ending with the monitor Miantonomoh. 

 Hie was washed overboard from the deck of the Miantonomoh and barely 

 escaped drowning. The result, however, of the exposure was a heart affec- 

 tion from which he never fully recovered, and he was retired in June, 1893. 

 He was detailed at the New York Navy Yard, the Continental Iron Works, 

 and other places on shore duty ; but that which perhaps gave him the greatest 

 satisfaction was as a member of the Experimental Board of Engineers, of 

 which Admiral Isherwood was the president. This board conducted a great 

 many very valuable experiments, the results of which were published in the 

 Annual Reports of the Bureau of Steam Engineering. Many of these are 



