| Birth: | Jan. 5, 1779 | | Death: | Mar. 22, 1820 | 
American Naval Officer. Born in Sinnepuxent, Maryland to Stephen and Ann Pine Decatur, he attended the Episcopal Academy and then the University of Pennsylvania. He was appointed a Midshipman in the United States Navy in April 1798 and served on the USS United States during the so-called quasi-war with France from 1798 to 1800.in 1803 he was given command of the brig Argus and sailed to the Mediterranean for service in the First Barbary War. He was lauded for conspicuous gallantry in the recaptured and destruction of the USS Philadelphia from the Tripolitans and bombarded the city. He became a national hero and was promoted to captain. During the War of 1812, Decatur commanded the USS United States, sailing off the Azores in heavy seas he engaged the British frigate Macedonian and bombed her into a hulk from long range. The Macedonian surrendered and was taken as a prize. In the spring of 1814 he commanded the USS President and a squadron of three vessels in the West Indies he encountered the British West Indies Squadron comprised of four ships. During the ensuing battle the USS President was run aground, and took two broadsides and Decatur was forced to surrender and Decatur was made prisoner. After peace with Great Britain, he commanded the US Mediterranean Squadron in the Second Barbary War. In a pioneering display of Gunboat Diplomacy, he put an end to the practice of paying tribute to pirate states and secured the final peace treaty with the Barbary Powers. From 1816 to 1820 he served as a Navy Commissioner in Washington, D.C. In 1820, Commodore James Barron challenged Decatur to a duel based on antagonism engendered by the so called Chesapeake-Leopard Affair in 1807. The two men exchanged shots at Bladensburg Dueling Field in Bladensburg, Maryland (present day Colmar Manor, Maryland) on March 22, 1820. Decatur inflicted a severe wound, and was himself mortally wounded. Decatur's funeral was attended by the more than 10,000 people who wished to pay respects to a national hero. Five U.S. Navy ships have been named USS Decatur, forty-six American communities, and numerous schools and highways have been named in his honor. (bio by: Iola)
Search Amazon for Stephen Decatur | | | Burial:
Saint Peter's Episcopal Churchyard
Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
Pennsylvania, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Jan 01, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 269 |
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