The first U.S. admiral, David Glasgow Farragut, was born west of Knoxville in an area called Stoney Point. The family moved to New Orleans when Farragut was just five years old. When his mother died of yellow fever, Farragut was adopted by David Porter, and moved to Chester, Pennsylvania.

Farragut, who was born James Glasgow Farragut, changed his name to David in honor of his patron and entered the U.S. navy. His naval career was long and proud; Farragut’s military service during the Civil War led to his promotion in 1866 to the rank of admiral. It was during an August 1864 battle aboard the USS Hartford when Farragut reportedly said, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead,” a phrase that lives on today.

The town that now exists near Admiral Farragut’s birthplace took his name, and now the Farragut City Hall houses a museum dedicated to this mostly unknown Tennessean.

The Farragut Folklife Museum (1140 Municipal Center Dr., Farragut, 865/966-7057, www.townoffarragut.org, Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., free) also houses exhibits about the local marble industry, the Battle of Campbell’s Station, and arts, crafts, and other memorabilia from the communities of Farragut and Concord.

Farragut is located near the intersection of Kingston Pike and Campbell Station Road, off I-40 exit 373.