Abner Read

Abner Read (1821–1863) was an officer of the United States Navy who distinguished himself in the American Civil War. He died of injuries sustained while patrolling the Mississippi River, in command of the . At the time of his death, he had attained the rank of lieutenant commander. Early life and education Abner Read was born April 5, 1821, in Urbana, Ohio, to Ezra Read and Nancy (Clark) Read. He studied at Ohio University, but left that institution a year before graduating to accept a warrant as a midshipman, effective March 2, 1839. Assigned to , he departed New York City in that schooner on March 16, 1840 and proceeded to South American waters where he served first in Enterprise and then in until the latter sailed for home early in 1844. Following a year of study at the naval school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Read was promoted to passed midshipman on July 2, 1845. then took him to the Atlantic coast of Africa where she operated against slavers through the summer of 1847. Sea and shore duty, 1848–1860 Next ordered to , he departed New York in that storeship on January 9, 1848 and proceeded to Veracruz where she arrived a week after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. His vessel promptly began issuing supplies to the warships of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's squadron and continued such duty until heading home in June.