sentences:  Farragut entered the Navy as a midshipman on December 17, 1810.His first naval combat experience came in the War of 1812, when the ship to which he was assigned, the , captured an enemy vessel and, at the age of 12 years he was given the assignment to bring the ship safely to port.In April 1862, Farragut was the "flag officer" in command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.