Stephen Decatur

author

Stephen Decatur

1779–1820

A daring early U.S. naval hero, he became famous for bold actions in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. His short, dramatic life helped shape the image of the young American Navy.

1 Audiobook

Correspondence, between the late Commodore Stephen Decatur and Commodore James Barron, which led to the unfortunate meeting of the twenty-second of March

Correspondence, between the late Commodore Stephen Decatur and Commodore James Barron, which led to the unfortunate meeting of the twenty-second of March

by Stephen Decatur, James Barron

About the author

Born in Maryland in 1779, Stephen Decatur Jr. grew up in a naval family and entered the United States Navy as a young man. He quickly earned a reputation for courage and skill at sea during the Quasi-War with France and then the First Barbary War.

Decatur became one of the best-known Americans of his time after leading the 1804 raid that destroyed the captured frigate Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor, an exploit widely praised for its boldness. He later commanded successfully in the War of 1812, including the capture of HMS Macedonian, and remained a major public figure in the Navy's early years.

He died in 1820 after a duel with Commodore James Barron, ending a remarkable career at just forty-one. Even so, his name endured as a symbol of bravery, patriotism, and the fierce spirit of the early republic.