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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Stephen Decatur Biography DECATUR, Stephen (1779–1820). An American naval officer, born in Sinnepuxent, Md., Jan. 5, 1779. He entered the navy as midshipman on board the United States in 1798. In November, 1803, he had command of the Norfolk and afterward of the Enterprise. On Feb. 16, 1804, at the head of a small party, he made a dash into the harbor of Tripoli and burned the frigate Philadelphia, which had fallen into the hands of the Tripolitans. In recognition of this act, which Admiral Nelson pronounced "the most daring of the age," he was made captain and was presented with a sword. Decatur had much more hard fighting in the harbor and neighborhood of Tripoli and in all cases showed the utmost daring and bravery. In 1812 he was in command, as commodore, of a squadron off the Atlantic coast and on October 25, in the United States, captured the English frigate Macedonian. From 1813 till the summer of 1814 he was forced by a British blockading squadron much superior to his own to remain in the harbor of New London. In January, 1815, he attempted to get to sea from New York with a small squadron. His flagship, the President, was injured by striking on the bar at Sandy Hook. He had not proceeded far when he was pursued and forced to engage in an unequal fight. He was finally overpowered and compelled to surrender and was taken to Bermuda with his frigate. He was soon paroled and in May, 1815, sailed from New York as commander of three frigates, one sloop, and six brigs and schooners, to operate against Algiers. He captured two important vessels; but the war was soon concluded by a treaty abolishing the demand upon the United States for tribute and giving up all prisoners. He made similar arrangements with the rulers of Tunis and Tripoli and thus put an end to the enslaving of the Americans by the corsairs of those countries. In November, 1815, he was made navy commissioner, with Commodore Rodgers and Porter, holding the office until his death, March 22, 1820, in a duel at Bladensburg, near Washington, with Commodore James Barron (q.v.). Consult the Life by Mackenzie (Boston, 1846), and Brady, Stephen Decatur (ib., 1900). His nephew, Stephen (1815–76), was commodore in the United States navy. The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. VI (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 577. |