Rodgers was born in
Brooklyn, the son of
Captain George Washington Rodgers (1787–1832) and Anna Maria Perry. His maternal grandfather was
Christopher Raymond Perry and he came from a family with an extensive history in the Navy. Rodgers was warranted
midshipman in the Navy on April 30, 1836, and was promoted to
passed midshipman on July 1, 1842. He served in the
West Indies,
Africa, and
Mediterranean. During the
Mexican–American War (1846–1848), Rodgers served in the
Gulf of Mexico as acting
master on the
steamer Colonel and
frigate . Rodgers served with the
United States Coast Survey from 1849 to 1850 and was promoted to
lieutenant on June 4, 1850. Rodgers was assigned to duty on the
sloop from 1851 to 1853. In 1861 Rodgers became
Commandant of Midshipmen at the
United States Naval Academy, replacing his brother
Christopher Raymond Perry Rodgers (1819–1892). In April 1861 he prevented capture of the by secessionists; he also transferred the Naval Academy to
Newport, Rhode Island, where it would remain until returning to
Annapolis in 1865, after the end of the
American Civil War. Rodgers was promoted to
commander on January 16, 1862. In 1863, seeking an active post in the
Union Navy, he left his post and took command of a new ship, the , patrolling the
James River. Rodgers served in the West Indies enforcing the
Union blockade against
Confederate blockade runners. Rodgers commanded the
ironclad monitor in two unsuccessful attacks on
Charleston Harbor, in October 1862 and on April 7, 1863, at the
First Battle of Charleston Harbor. Rodgers was appointed chief of staff to
Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren on July 4, 1863, and "was distinguished for his bravery in the silencing of
Fort Sumter and the
batteries on
Morris Island." Rodgers was killed aboard the
Catskill on August 17, 1863, after a shot pierced the
pilothouse while Rodgers commanded the attack on
Fort Wagner in the
Second Battle of Charleston Harbor. ==References==