John Rodgers, b. 1771; d. 1838. He entered the Navy in 1789, was promoted to captain in 1799 for gallantry in capturing a French vessel; served in the war with Tripoli and succeeded Commodore Barron in command of the Mediterranean squadron, 1805; commanded Atlantic squadron in the War of 1812; was president of the Board of Naval Commissioners, 1815-1837, except during 1824-1827, when he again commanded the Mediterranean squadron.

John Rodgers, son of the proceeding, b. 1812; d. 1882. Served in the Seminal War, 1840-1843; surveyed coast of Florida and conducted explorations in the North Pacific Ocean, China Sea, and Arctic Ocean, 1852-1861. He served with distinction in the Civil War and became rear admiral in command if the Asiatic fleet in 1869; at his death he was superintendent of the Naval Observatory at Washington...

John Rodgers, naval aviator, b. Washington, D.C., 15 Jan. 1881; d. Philadelphia, Pa., 27 Aug. 1926, was graduated from the Naval Academy in 1903 and attained the rank of commander in 1920. He served in the Spanish War and on the North Sea mine barrage in the World War. In 1925 he made a sensational non-stop flight, from San Francisco to Hawaii. Within 200 miles of Honolulu he was forced down in the water and was rescued with his four companions. For this achievement he was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics. In August 1926 he returned to active service and lost his life as a result of injuries received when his plane dropped about 150 feet into the shallow water of the Delaware River. With his death the United States Navy was left, for the first time since 1776, with no John Rodgers of his family on its active list. --Encyclopedia Americana.