This is another one of those strange relationships that demonstrates how deeply the Carman family can reach into American history.

Born on 6 July 1781 in Sloatbury, Orange, New York, he was orphaned at an early age  - his father haven been killed two months before his birth on his own doorstep by a Sentry during the Revolutionary War.  His mother died within a few years of that and the young man was brought up by his maternal grandparents - Joseph and Amy (Carman) Drake.  As Joseph Drake was a distant relative of Sir Francis Drake, the young boy was brought up with stories of great sea adventures.

When he was 19, John managed a commission as Midshipman in the Navy, was a Sailing Master by the time of the War of 1812 and contributed to the capture of the British ship "Macedonian".  After the war he sailed as Captain of several merchant ships, one of which was part of a plan to rescue Napoleon Bonaparte from the British after his capture, but Napoleon's allies failed to carry out the escape plan.  Soon after John reentered the United States Navy as a Lieutenant serving in the Pacific. By 1824  he was Lieutenant Commander Sloat and had his own ship.  During this time he was back in the Atlantic putting an end to Slave Traders and doing battle with Pirates off the West Indies, and again, performing his missions with good notice. As a result he was promoted to Captain, the highest rank in the Navy at that time.

In 1845 Captain Sloat was assigned as "Commander-In-Chief" of the Pacific Squadron. In this capacity he was permitted the title of Commodore, which had not yet been added to the rank structure of the Navy. In late 1845 he was given orders to sail his ships to the west coast of America and if war broke out with Mexico, he was to land in California and claim it for the United States. As ordered he sailed off Mazatlan, Mexico, put spies ashore and waited. The British were also there as they wanted to claim California for themselves (Mexico owed a lot of Money to England and England planned to get it back by seizing California).  One of Commodore Sloat's spies finally reported actual fighting along the Texas-Mexico boarder and he set sail. The British had also observed the fighting, but Commodore Sloat was faster, beating them to Monterey California by two weeks. The American flag was raised over the Custom's House in Monterey on 7 July 1846 and other ships were sent to San Francisco to do the same.  The British did not contest the claim, rather they congratulated Commodore Sloat for skillfully carrying out his orders. 

TO THE INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA
A Proclamation by Commodore John D. Sloat
Commander-in-chief of the United States
Naval Forces in the Pacific Ocean.

United States Flag-ship Savannah,
Harbor of Monterey, July 7, 1846.

The central government of Mexico having commenced hostilities against the United States of America, by invading its territory and attacking the troops of the United States stationed on the north side of the Rio Grande, and with a force of seven thousand men, under the command of General Arista, which army was totally destroyed and all their artillery, baggage, &c., captured on the 8th and 9th of May last, by a force of two thousand three hundred men, under the command of General Taylor, and the city of Matamoras taken and occupied by the forces of the United States; and the two nations being actually at war by this transaction, I shall hoist the standard of the United States at Monterey immediately, and shall carry it throughout California. I declare to the inhabitants of California, that although I come in arms with a powerful force, I do not come among them as an enemy to California; on the contrary, I come as their best friend - as henceforward California will be a portion of the United States, and its peaceable inhabitants will enjoy the same rights and privileges they now enjoy; together with the privileges of choosing their own magistrates and other officers for the administration of justice among themselves, and the same protection will be extended to them as to any other State in the Union. They will also enjoy a permanent government under which life, property and the constitutional right and lawful security to worship the Creator in the way most congenial to each one's sense of duty will be secured, which unfortunately the central government of Mexico cannot afford them, destroyed as her resources are by internal factions and corrupt officers, who create constant revolutions to promote their own interests and to oppress the people. Under the flag of the United States, California will be free from all such troubles and expense, consequently the country will rapidly advance and improve both in agriculture and commerce; as of course the revenue laws will be the same in California as in all other parts of the United States, affording them all manufactures and produce of the United States, free of any duty, and all foreign goods at one quarter of the duty they now pay, a great increase in the value of real estate and the products of California may also be anticipated. 

With the great interest and kind feelings I know the government and people of the United States possess towards the citizens of California, the country cannot but improve more rapidly than any other on the continent of America. Such of the inhabitants of California, whether natives or foreigners, as may not be disposed to accept the high privileges of citizenship, and to live peaceably under the government of the United States, will be allowed time to dispose of their property and to remove out of the country, if they choose, without any restriction, or remain in it, observing strict neutrality. 

With full confidence in the honor and integrity of the inhabitants of the country, I invite the judges, alcaldes, and other civil officers, to retain their offices and to execute their functions as heretofore, that the public tranquility may not be disturbed; at least, until the government of the territory can be more definitely arranged. 

All persons holding titles to real estate, or in quiet possession of lands under a color of right, shall have those titles and rights guaranteed to them. 

All churches, and the property they contain, in possession of the clergy of California, shall continue in the same rights and possessions they now enjoy. 

All provisions and supplies of every kind, furnished by the inhabitants for the use of United States ships and soldiers, will be paid for at fair rates, and no private property will be taken for public use without just compensation at the moment. 


John Drake Sloat
Commander-in-chief,
United States Naval Forces, Pacific Ocean, 1846. 

Shortly after, Captain Sloat turned over command of the squadron to Commodore Stockton due to failing health, and left California.  When the United States Navy officially created the rank of Commodore, John Drake Sloat was the first officer ever promoted to the rank.  After his retirement he was promoted to Rear-Admiral in recognition of his service to his Country.

Two United States Navy ships have been after him, both destroyers, one commissioned in 1920 and the other saw duty in World War II - DE245 and was a sister ship to the Destroyer Escort my father served on in World War II, DE240 - USS Moore.

U.S. Navy archives photo - DE-245 USS Sloat