Portrait of Capt. John Faunce

From Madison Historical Society

2001 (Date manufactured/created)

Paper

A oil portrait copy of a Library of Congress photo of Revenue Service Captain John Faunce, who fired the first naval shot of the Civil War.  It may have been repainted in 2001 for an MHS Lee Academy museum exhibit.  According to  www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/USRCS_Uniform_Photos_1889.asp, Captain Faunce was the commanding officer of the steam cutter Harriet Lane at the onset of the Civil War.  He was in command when she fired the "first naval shot" of the Civil War outside Charleston Harbor.  Faunce entered the service and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 5 June 1841.  At that time he served aboard the cutter Forward which was home-ported at Wilmington, Delaware.  He was promoted to First Lieutenant on 28 October 1843.  He was promoted to Captain on 8 March 1855.  Faunce was born in Maryland and entered the Service while living in Massachusetts.   He passed away on 5 June 1891.
Learn more about this encounter at www.cgaalumni.org/s/1043/uscga/index.aspx?sid=1043&gi...;
(Note this image was previously displayed as a portrait of Capt. Frederick Lee.  That unfortunate error is now corrected; see <a href="http://www.shorelinetimes.com/opinion/remembering-when-will-the-real-capt-lee-of-madison-please/article_071f30f5-1b10-5fdb-b6d5-9455b15d5049.html" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.shorelinetimes.com/opinion/remembering-when-will-the-...</a>)
H: 43", W: 29".

Donor - Betty Pierce Wright Memorial Gifts

Accession/ID Number 2008.80