Oliver S. Glisson
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

Oliver S. Glisson was born on 18 January 1809.

Glisson entered the U.S. Navy as a Midshipman in 1826, and served the next forty-four years in the naval service. During the Mexican War, he commanded the USS Reefer as it served in Commodore Matthew Perry's squadron. In the 1850s, he commanded the warship USS Powhatan in the East India Squadron, and was present in Japan when Commodore Perry made his 1852 to 1854 expedition to open that country to Western trade.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he was assigned to command the USS Mount Vernon in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Promoted to Captain on 16 July 1862, he then briefly commanded the USS Iroquois and USS Mohican before being assigned command of the steamer USS Santiago de Cuba, which he helmed through the end of the war.

He participated in both the December 1864 and January 1865 combined Army-Naval operations against Fort Fisher, NC, as Commander of the Third Naval Division, and was specifically cited by overall Naval commander Admiral David D. Porter for his efforts in covering the landing of the Union invasion forces.

Promoted to Commodore on 25 July 1866 and Rear Admiral on 10 June 1870, he commanded the U.S. Naval station at League Island, Philadelphia, PA, and the U.S. Navy European Squadron before being retired on 18 January 1871.

Death and Burial

Rear Admiral Oliver S. Glisson died on 20 November 1890 at his home in Philadelphia, PA. He is buried at Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia.