John T. Newton

Commodore John Thomas Newton (May 20, 1793 – July 28, 1857) was an officer in the United States Navy who commanded several ships over a period of decades, undertaking missions in the Caribbean and leading the first crossing of the Atlantic by an American steam-powered warship. He was court-martialed following a fire that destroyed that vessel, but his suspension from service was remitted by President John Tyler, after which Newton commanded Pensacola Navy Yard and the Home Squadron for periods. He died while serving in his last post as president of a Naval Court of Inquiry. Early life and family He was born in Alexandria, Virginia, into the "extensive and widely known Newton family". He was the brother of U.S. Representative Thomas Willoughby Newton, the only person ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas as a member of the Whig Party. His nephew was Confederate Colonel Robert C. Newton who served as a major general in the state militia. His daughter Sara Jane married Henry Rossiter Worthington, who founded the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; their son, Charles Campbell Worthington, was partly responsible for founding the Professional Golfers Association. Naval career Newton joined the Navy on January 16, 1809 and was commissioned on July 24, 1813. He served with distinction on . Lieutenant Newton was awarded a presentation sword in 1817 by the city of Alexandria for gallantry during the February 24, 1813 sinking of HMS Peacock by Hornet. On March 23, 1815, Hornet captured , not having received word that the War of 1812 had ended. Captain James Biddle was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal on February 10, 1820 in recognition of this victory, while Newton and others among the crew were awarded silver medals. As of March 20, 1820, Lieutenant Newton was still stationed on Hornet.