The gutsy, if politically incorrect commander of the Alabama,
Raphael Semmes was born
9/27/1809 (died 8/30/1877)
Roll Alabama! (qv in the database)
Note: the current Capt. Semmes, Jon Semmes of Dunnellon, Florida is Raphael's great, great, great grandson. Rather than destroying the shipping of the North, Jon is a noted Florida folk-singer/song writer who also provides singing tours of Florida waterways. He was born 8/23/1968. [Singing River Tours]