John Pyne Bankhead (1821–1867) was an officer in the United States Navy who served during the American Civil War, and was in command of the ironclad USS Monitor when it sank in 1862.

[2] After the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter and President Lincoln's declaration of a blockade, Bankhead was ordered to USS Susquehanna,[a] a side-wheel steamer carrying fifteen guns launched in 1850.

On August 28 the Union naval force, including Susquahanna, bombarded the forts guarding Hatteras Inlet as troops landed.

Bankhead criticized the way the attacks were carried out and later wrote Captain Gustavus Fox, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and an old shipmate, that the forts could have been taken in much less time:[1] Had a boat been sent in to take soundings and a few buoys placed at the commencement of shoal waters,the squadron could have gone in close and finished the whole matter up in a few hours instead of two daysand saved to the Government money, tons of shot and shell which were literally thrown away...[1]Bankhead was later stationed on Pembina and was sent to Charleston, South Carolina, for blockade duty, where his years with the U.S. Coast Survey were put to good use.

[3] On May 16 Pembina arrived off Charleston and Bankhead was ordered by the senior officer present, Commander John B. Marchand, to determine if the water over the bar at the entrance to the Stono River was deep enough to allow his warships to cross over.

Flag Officer DuPont wrote a letter on Bankhead's behalf to Captain Gustavus Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, requesting that he be transferred to an ironclad vessel.

Bankhead paid the ship's cook one dollar to prepare a meal for the crew befitting the day, however it was received with mixed opinion.

[6] While the design of Monitor was well-suited for river combat, her low freeboard and heavy turret made her highly unseaworthy in rough waters.

Monitor put to sea on December 31, under tow from Rhode Island, when a heavy storm developed off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Monitor was soon in trouble as the storm increased in ferocity, large waves splashing over and completely covering the deck, flooding into the vents and ports.

Realizing the ship was in serious trouble, Bankhead signaled Rhode Island for help and hoisted the red lantern next to Monitor's white running light atop the turret.

He then called for volunteers and ordered the towline cut and the anchor dropped to stop the ship's rolling and pitching, with little effect,[8] making it no easier for the rescue boats to get close enough to receive her crew.

[13] Despite a prolonged and desperate rescue effort, Monitor was finally overwhelmed, foundered and sank approximately 16 miles (26 km) southeast off Cape Hatteras with the loss of sixteen men, including four officers, some of whom remained in the turret and went down with the ironclad.

He finally requested active duty in January 1864 and on February 3 was given command of the new double ender side-wheel gunboat USS Otsego.

[18] USS Wyoming was transferred to the Asiatic Squadron, and Bankhead was promoted to captain on 25 July 1866 and remained in command until 1867, when due to poor health he requested to be relieved of duty.