ELIAS VANDER HORST, PASSED MIDN, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Elias Vander Horst, '47

Date of birth: February 20, 1825

Date of death: March 17, 1850

Age: 25

Loss

Elias died on March 17, 1850 in Bota Fago, near Rio de Janeiro, of yellow fever.

Other Information

The South Carolina Historical Society has his naval journal from 1842-43 while on board the frigate Columbia.

He was born in, and appointed to the Naval Academy from, South Carolina.

He is buried in South Carolina; his tombstone reads "To the memory of Elias Vanderhorst U.S.A. Passed Midshipman who died in the service of his country at Rio De Janeiro." Elias was survived by his parents, a brother, and a sister.

Career

From the Naval History and Heritage Command:

Midshipman, 10 September, 1841. Passed Midshipman, 10 August, 1847. Died 17 March, 1850.

In the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1842 he is listed as a member of the frigate Columbia, with 44 guns, which was part of the Brazil Squadron.

He was a midshipman aboard the sloop Cyane (1837) in 1846; the ship had "sailed from Norfolk August 10, 1845 to relieve the Levant, was at Monterey July 7, 1846, at the taking possession of California."

Related Articles

Horace Crabb '47 was also aboard Cyane in 1846.

Memorial Hall Error

Illness is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.


Class of 1847

Elias is one of 32 members of the Class of 1847 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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