Jacob Aaron Westervelt
Jacob Aaron Westervelt (January 20, 1800 – February 21, 1879) was a renowned and prolific shipbuilder who constructed 247 vessels of all descriptions during his career of over 50 years. From 1853 until 1855 he was Mayor of New York City.
USS Underwriter (1852)
While lying at anchor off New Bern early on 2 February 1864, "Underwriter" was captured by a Confederate boat crew led by Commander John Taylor Wood, grandson of President Zachary Taylor and nephew of President Jefferson Davis. They caught the "Underwriter" crew by surprise and took her in hand-to-hand combat, killing Acting Master Jacob Westervelt and capturing most of the vessel's complement. The gunboat did not have steam up, so the Confederates burned her, as they were under heavy fire from surrounding Union batteries. The ship burned to the waterline, but her machinery was relatively unscathed. Her boilers and engines were later salvaged.