Stephen R. Mallory

Mallory, Stephen Russell (1813?–1873), a United States and Confederate political leader. As Confederate secretary of the navy, 1861–65, he was noted for his resourcefulness. Unable to buy ironclad (armored) vessels, he had wooden ships converted into ironclad rams; one of these was the Merrimack. When iron was unavailable for armor-plating the rams, Mallory had their sides padded with bales of cotton. Under his direction, the Confederate navy made widespread use of naval mines and launched the H. L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink an enemy vessel.

Mallory, born on Trinidad, was brought to Florida as a child. He became a lawyer and served in the U.S. Senate, 1851–61.