WELLS, Clark Henry, naval officer; born in Reading, Pennsylvania, 22 September, 1822; died in Washington, D. C., 28 January, 1888. He was appointed a midshipman in the navy, 25 September, 1840, attended the naval academy at Annapolis in 1846, and became a passed midshipman on 11 July of that year. During the Mexican war he served in the brig "Somers," which was capsized and sunk in a squall off Vera Cruz, after which he joined the "Petrel." in which he participated in covering the landing of Scott's army and in the bombardment of Vera Cruz. He also took part in the expeditions that captured Tampico and Tuspan in 1846-'7., He was promoted to master, 1 March, 1855, and to lieutenant, 14 September, 1855, served in the steam frigate "Niagara," laying the first Atlantic submarine cable in 1857. When the civil war opened he was appointed executive of the steamer "Susquehanna," in which he participated in the capture of Port Royal, South Carolina He led several boat expeditions in engagements with batteries in the inland coast waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and was present at the capture of Fernandina. He commanded the sloop " Vandalic," on the blockade of Charleston, and took the sloop " D " ale home in 1862. He was commissioned a lieutenant-commander, 16 July, 1862, was executive of the Philadelphia navy-yard in 1863, and commanded the wooden steamer "Galena" in the Western Gulf blockading squadron in 1863-'4. He participated in the battle of Mobile, in which his vessel was lashed to the " Oneida." When they were passing the forts a shell from the ram "Tennessee" exploded in one of the "Oneida's" boilers, and he towed her along, in command of both vessels because the commander of the " Oneida" had been wounded, he was highly commended by Admiral Farragut in his official report and by a special letter. He served in the Eastern Gulf squadron for a few months, was refitted at Philadelphia and joined Admiral Porter's fleet at Hampton Roads, where he remained until the close of the war. He commanded the steamer "Kansas" on the Brazil station in 1865-'6, where he rendered assistance to a British gun-boat that was stranded in the river Plate, and also to a British merchant-vessel, for which he received a letter of thanks from the British government through the president. He was commissioned a commander, 25 July, 1866, captain, 19 June, 1871, and with the " Shenandoah " rendered valuable assistance to the iron-clad "Compt de Verde" which had broken from her moorings at Spezia. He received the decoration of the Legion of honor from President Thiers of France for this service. He was chief signal officer of the navy in 1879-'80, was promoted to commodore, 22 January, 1880, and on 1 August, 1884, to rear-admiral, and he was placed on the retired list, 22 September, 1884.