William Barker Cushing

William Barker Cushing (born Nov. 4, 1842, Delafield, Wis., U.S.—died Dec. 17, 1874, Washington, D.C.) was a U.S. naval officer who won acclaim for his daring exploits for the Union during the American Civil War (1861–65). Appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 1857, Cushing was obliged to resign four years later because of his irreverent attitude and practical jokes. The onset of the Civil War gave him a chance to redeem...