Cassin, John, 1760-1822

Commodore John Cassin was born in Philadelphia, the son of Joseph Cassin and Elizabeth Lauder. Cassin served in the Army during the American Revolution and participated in the Battle of Trenton. He later served as ship captain on merchantships, and was twice shipwrecked. He became a lieutenant in the Navy in 1799, and was appointed as second officer of the Washington Navy Yard in 1803. He married Ann Wilcox of Philadelphia and they had four children. He then commanded the Norfolk Naval Yard, and then the Southern Naval Station in Charleston. He's buried at the Saint Mary of the Annunciation Cemetery in Charleston.