He returned to his home, which was shadowed by the death of his bright boy at the age of fourteen years.

A few months later two of his daughters died.

How hollow sounded the praises of his countrymen when his head was bowed with such overwhelming sorrow! He had been made rear admiral, and, though still weak, was by his own request assigned to the command of the North Atlantic squadron.

He went to New York to complete his preparations, but while there succumbed to his illness, and died at the Astor House, June 26, 1863..