Commodore
Stephen Decatur, Jr (5 January 1779 – 22 March 1820) was an
American navalThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
officer notable for his heroism in the
Barbary WarsThe Barbary Wars were two wars between the United States of America and the Barbary States of North Africa in the early 19th century. At issue was the Barbary pirates' demand of tribute from American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea...
and in the
War of 1812The War of 1812, between the United States of America and the British Empire , lasted from 1812 to 1815. It was fought chiefly on the Atlantic Ocean and on the land, coasts and waterways of North America.There were several immediate stated causes for the U.S...
. He was the youngest man to reach the rank of captain in the history of the
United States NavyThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
, and the first American celebrated as a national military hero who had not played a role in the
American RevolutionThe American Revolution is the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America at first rejected the governance of the Parliament of Great Britain, and later the British monarchy itself, to become the sovereign United States of...
.
Early life
Decatur was born on January 5, 1779, in
Berlin, MarylandBerlin is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of Berlin had its start around the 1790s, part of the Burley Plantation, a land grant dating back to 1677...
, to
Stephen Decatur, Sr.Stephen Decatur, Sr. was an American naval captain in the Revolutionary War and later in the Quasi-War. He was the father of Stephen Decatur, Jr...
and his wife Ann (Pine) Decatur. He attended the Episcopal Academy and then studied at the
University of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and is one of several institutions that claims to have been the first university in America...
with future naval heroes
Richard SomersRichard Somers was an officer of the United States Navy, killed during a daring assault on Tripoli.Born at Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey, he attended the University of Pennsylvania with future naval heroes Stephen Decatur and Charles Stewart...
and
Charles StewartCharles Stewart was an officer in the United States Navy.Born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Stewart went to sea at the age of thirteen as a cabin boy and rose through the grades to become master of a merchantman. He grew up with Captain Stephen Decatur and Richard Sommers...
. He married Susan Wheeler, daughter of the mayor of
Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 234,403 as of the 2000 census, it is Virginia's second-largest incorporated city behind its eastern neighbor, Virginia Beach....
, on March 8, 1806.
Pre-commission
Decatur was employed at the age of 17 in the firm of Gurney and Smith, acting as the company's supervisor to the early construction of the frigate
United StatesUSS United States was the first frigate in the United States Navy in 1797.United States was the first of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. It was designed by naval architect Joshua Humphreys and William Doughty. She was built at the shipyard in...
. He served as a Midshipman on board the United States under
Commodore John BarryJohn Barry was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later in the United States Navy. He is often credited as "The Father of the American Navy"...
. He was one of "
PrebleEdward Preble was a United States naval officer.-Early life and Revolutionary War:Preble was born at Falmouth, Eastern Massachusetts, now Portland, Maine, 15 August 1761, the son of Gen. Jedidiah Preble. In 1779 he was appointed to the Massachusetts State Navy, becoming an officer in the 26 gun...
's Boys" and friends with
Charles StewartCharles Stewart was an officer in the United States Navy.Born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Stewart went to sea at the age of thirteen as a cabin boy and rose through the grades to become master of a merchantman. He grew up with Captain Stephen Decatur and Richard Sommers...
and
Richard RushRichard Rush was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the second son of Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and Julia Rush. He entered the College of New Jersey at the age of 14, and graduated in 1797 as the youngest member of his class...
.
Quasi-War
Decatur saw service throughout the
Quasi-WarThe Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought almost entirely at sea between the United States and France from 1798 to 1800. In the United States, the conflict was sometimes also referred to as the Franco-American War, the Undeclared War with France, the Undeclared Naval War, the Pirate Wars, or the...
, an undeclared naval war with France. In 1798, Decatur secured commission as a midshipman aboard the
United States. He was promoted to the rank of
LieutenantLieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service, emergency medical services or police officer rank....
in 1799. For a brief period, Decatur served aboard the sloop
NorfolkThe first USS Norfolk was a brig in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France.Norfolk was built by the city of Norfolk, Virginia for the public service at the beginning of the Quasi-War with France in 1798...
but soon transferred back to the
United States. Following the Quasi-War, the US Navy underwent a significant reduction of active ships and officers; Decatur was one of the few selected to remain commissioned.
First Barbary War
Given command of the
brigIn nautical terms, a brig is a vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and maneuverable and were used as both naval war ships and merchant ships. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
ArgusThe first USS Argus was a brig in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War and the War of 1812.Argus was laid down as Merrimack on 12 May 1803 at Boston, Massachusetts, by Edmund Hartt; renamed Argus on 4 June 1803; and launched on 21 August 1803.-First Barbary War:Though no document...
in 1803, he took it to the Mediterranean for service in the
First Barbary WarThe First Barbary War , also known as the Barbary Coast War or the Tripolitan War, was the first of two wars fought between the United States of America and the North African states known collectively as the Barbary States...
against
TripoliTripoli is the largest and capital city of Libya.Tripoli has a population of 1.69 million...
. Once in the combat zone, Lieutenant Decatur commanded the
schoonerA schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being shorter or the same height as the rear masts...
EnterpriseThe third USS Enterprise, a schooner, was built by Henry Spencer at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1799, and placed under the command of Lieutenant John Shaw...
and, on 23 December 1803, captured the enemy
ketchA ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: a main mast, and a shorter mizzen mast abaft of the main mast, but forward of the rudder. Both masts are rigged mainly fore-and-aft. From one to three jibs may be carried forward of the main mast when going to windward. If a ketch is not rigged for jibs...
Mastico. That vessel, taken into the U.S. Navy under the name
IntrepidThe first USS Intrepid was a captured ketch in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War.Intrepid was built in France in 1798 for Napoleon's Egyptian expedition. She was subsequently sold to Tripoli, whom she served as Mastico...
, was used by Decatur on 16 February 1804 to execute a night raid into Tripoli harbor to destroy the U.S. frigate
PhiladelphiaThe second USS Philadelphia of the United States Navy was a 36-gun sailing frigate.Originally named City of Philadelphia, she was built from 1798–1799 for the United States government by the citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was designed by Josiah Fox and built by Samuel Humphreys,...
, which had been captured after running aground at the end of October 1803. Admiral Lord Nelson is said to have called this "the most bold and daring act of the Age".
This daring and extremely successful operation made Lieutenant Decatur an immediate national hero, a status that was enhanced by his courageous conduct during the 3 August 1804 bombardment of Tripoli. In that action, he led his men in hand-to-hand fighting while boarding and capturing an enemy gunboat. Decatur was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain, and over the next eight years had command of several
frigateA frigate is a warship. The term has been used for warships of many sizes and roles over the past few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and manoeuvrability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s.
War of 1812
The
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
declared
warThe War of 1812, between the United States of America and the British Empire , lasted from 1812 to 1815. It was fought chiefly on the Atlantic Ocean and on the land, coasts and waterways of North America.There were several immediate stated causes for the U.S...
on
Great BritainGreat Britain is an island lying to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island. With a population of about 59.6 million people, it is the third most populated island on Earth. Great Britain is surrounded by over 1000 smaller...
on 14 June 1812.
United States, commanded by Decatur, the frigate
CongressUSS Congress was a 38-gun frigate of the United States Navy and the third ship to carry the name. She was one of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794...
(36), and the
brigIn nautical terms, a brig is a vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and maneuverable and were used as both naval war ships and merchant ships. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
ArgusThe first USS Argus was a brig in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War and the War of 1812.Argus was laid down as Merrimack on 12 May 1803 at Boston, Massachusetts, by Edmund Hartt; renamed Argus on 4 June 1803; and launched on 21 August 1803.-First Barbary War:Though no document...
(18) joined Commodore
John RodgersJohn Rodgers was an American naval officer who served in the United States Navy from its organization in the 1790s through the late 1830s. His service included the Quasi-War with France and the War of 1812.-Biography:...
' squadron at
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
and put to sea immediately, cruising off the east coast until the end of August. The squadron again sailed on 8 October 1812, this time from Boston. Three days later, after capturing
Mandarin,
United States parted company and continued to cruise eastward. At dawn on 25 October, five hundred miles south of the
AzoresThe Azores is a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about from Lisbon and about from the east coast of North America. The two westernmost Azorean islands actually lie on the North American plate...
, lookouts on board
United States reported seeing a sail 12 miles (19 km) to windward. As the ship rose over the horizon, Captain Decatur made out the fine, familiar lines of HMS
Macedonian.
In 1810, the
Macedonian and the
United States had been berthed next to one another in port at Norfolk, Virginia. The British captain John Carden wagered a beaver hat that if the two ever met in battle, the
Macedonian would emerge victorious. However, the engagement in a heavy swell proved otherwise as the
United States pounded the
Macedonian into a dismasted wreck from long range. The
Macedonian had no option but surrender, and thus was taken as a prize by Decatur. Eager to present the nation with a prize, Decatur spent a fortnight refitting the captured British frigate so as to make it able to travel back across the Atlantic.
After repairs,
United States—accompanied by
USS MacedonianThe first USS Macedonian was a United States Navy 38-gun sailing frigate, originally the of the Royal Navy, captured by Stephen Decatur in the War of 1812.This ship was 154 feet 6 inches long as built, to the draught of the...
and the brig
HornetThe third USS Hornet was a brig-rigged sloop-of-war in the United States Navy. Later, however, she was re-rigged as a ship.Hornet was launched on 28 July 1805 in Baltimore and commissioned on 18 October...
—sailed from New York on 24 May 1813. On 1 June, the three vessels were driven into
New London, ConnecticutNew London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut.The city is home to Connecticut College, Mitchell...
, by a powerful British squadron, and
United States and
Macedonian were kept blocked there until the end of the war.
Decatur attempted to sneak out of New London harbor at night in an effort to elude the British blockading squadron. While attempting to leave the Thames River Decatur saw blue lights burning near the mouth of the river in sight of the
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name and the state form of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927...
blockaders. Convinced that these were signals to betray his plans he abandoned the project. Suspicion was directed against the "peace men" and the odious epithet of "
Bluelight FederalistsBlue-light Federalist was a derogatory term used by those who believed certain Federalists to have made friendly signals to British ships in the War of 1812 to warn the British of American blockade runners, the specific event supposedly happening in 1813, in New London, Connecticut, when Commodore...
" long was applied to extreme Federalists.
In the spring of 1814, Decatur transferred his commodore's pennant to the
PresidentUSS President was a 44-gun sailing frigate of the United States Navy. One of the original six frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794, she was designed by Joshua Humphreys, built in New York City, and was the last of the six to be completed...
(44), flagship of his new squadron consisting of
HornetThe third USS Hornet was a brig-rigged sloop-of-war in the United States Navy. Later, however, she was re-rigged as a ship.Hornet was launched on 28 July 1805 in Baltimore and commissioned on 18 October...
(20),
PeacockThe first USS Peacock was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.Peacock was authorized by Act of Congress 3 March 1813; laid down 9 July 1813 by Adam & Noah Brown at the New York Navy Yard; and launched 19 September 1813. She served in the War of 1812, capturing twenty ships...
(22), and Tom Bowline
(12). However, the British had established a strict blockade in the squadron's port of New York, therefore restricting any cruises.
In January 1815, Decatur's squadron was assigned a mission in the East Indies. Shortly thereafter, Decatur attempted to break through the blockade alone in the President
and make for the appointed rendezvous at Tristan da CunhaTristan da Cunha is a remote volcanic group of islands in the south Atlantic Ocean. It is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying from the nearest land, South Africa, and from South America. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da...
. On January 15, a day after setting sail from New York, he encountered the British West Indies Squadron comprised of RazeeA razee or razée is a sailing ship that has been cut down to reduce the number of decks. The word is derived from the French vaisseau rasé, meaning a razed ship.-Sixteenth century:...
HMS Majestic
HMS Majestic was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line launched on 11 December 1785 at Deptford. She fought at the Battle of the Nile, where she engaged the French ships Tonnant and Heureux, helping to force their surrenders...
(56 guns, Captain John HayesJohn Hayes may refer to:In academia:* John Hayes , British art historian and museum director, expert on GainsboroughIn entertainment:* John Hayes , American director of low-budget films...
) and the frigates HMS Endymion
HMS Endymion was a 40-gun 24-pounder fifth-rate frigate, that served in the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812 and during the First Opium War. She was the lead ship of her class of six frigates built to the lines of the French prize captured in 1794.She was famous for...
(40 guns, Captain Henry HopeHenry Hope was an Amsterdam merchant banker born in Boston, New England.-Early years:His father Henry was a Rotterdam merchant of Scottish lineage who had left for the "new world" after experiencing financial difficulties in the bubble of 1720 in Rotterdam. Henry Hope the elder settled near Boston...
), HMS Pomone
The Astrée was a 44-gun Pallas-class frigate of the French Navy, launched at Cherbourg in 1809. The Royal Navy captured her in 1810 and took her into service under her French name, but then in 1811 recommissioned her as HMS Pomone...
(38 guns, Captain John Richard Lumley) and HMS Tenedos
(38 guns, Captain Hyde ParkerVice-Admiral Hyde Parker CB was a senior British naval officer who started to serve during the Napoleonic Wars and who was appointed First Naval Lord of the Admiralty in 1852. He is generally known as "Hyde Parker III".-Naval career:...
). After the President
was accidentally run aground, Decatur continued to attempt to evade his pursuers. Endymion
was the first to come up and after a fierce fight, he managed to disable the British frigate. But due to the damage sustained from Endymion
, Decatur's frigate was finally overhauled by Pomone
and Tenedos
, causing him to surrender his command. However, his hail of surrender was not heard by Pomone
, firing two broadsides into the President until she hauled down a light to signify surrender. As Decatur himself termed it, "my ship crippled, and more than a four-fold force opposed to me, without a chance of escape left, I deemed it my duty to surrender". Decatur's command suffered 24 men killed and 55 wounded, including Decatur himself who was wounded by a large flying splinter.
Decatur and his men were transported as prisoners to Bermuda until February 1815. On February 8, with news of the cessation of hostilities, Decatur traveled aboard HMS Narcissus (32), landing in New London, Connecticut. On February 26, Decatur arrived in New York City, where he convalesced in a boarding house.
Second Barbary War
In May 1815, Commodore Decatur sailed his squadron of ten ships to the Mediterranean Sea to conduct the
Second Barbary WarThe Second Barbary War was the second of two wars fought between the United States and the Ottoman Empire's North African regencies of Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis, known collectively as the Barbary States...
, which put an end to the international practice of paying tribute to pirate states. Decatur was dispatched to
AlgiersAlgiers is the capital and largest city of Algeria, and the second largest city in the Maghreb . According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630...
to secure the release of American slaves, to obtain an end to tribute, and finally, to procure favorable prize agreements.
Capturing the Algerian fleet flagshipThe Battle off Cape Gata, which took place June 17 1815, was the first battle of the Second Barbary War where a fleet of American vessels captured the flagship of the Algerian Navy-Background:...
MashoudaThe Mashouda was the Algerian fleet flagship during the Second Barbary War. It was captured by Stephen Decatur, leading to a favorable American position from which to bargain with the Dey of Algiers....
as
well as the Algerian brigThe Battle off Cape Palos was the second to last battle of the Second Barbary War. The battle began when an American squadron under Stephen Decatur attacked and captured an Algerian brig.-Background:...
Estedio in route to Algeria, Decatur secured an amount of levying power with which to bargain with the
DeyDey was the title given to the rulers of the Regency of Algiers and Tunis under the Ottoman Empire from 1671 onwards...
of Algiers. Upon arrival, Decatur exhibited an early use of
gunboat diplomacyIn international politics, gunboat diplomacy refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power — implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare, should terms not be agreeable to the superior force....
on behalf of American interests. A new treaty was agreed to within 48 hours of his arrival, confirming the success of his objectives.
After resolving the disputes in Algiers, Decatur sailed his squadron to
TunisTunis is the capital of the Tunisian Republic and also the Tunis Governorate, with a population of 1,200,000 in 2008 and over 3,980,500 in the greater Tunis area...
and
TripoliTripoli is the largest and capital city of Libya.Tripoli has a population of 1.69 million...
to demand reimbursement for proceeds withheld by those governments in the War of 1812. In a similar fashion, Decatur received all of the demands he asked of them, and promptly sailed home victorious.
For this campaign, he became known as "the Conqueror of the Barbary Pirates".
Domestic service
Between 1816 and 1820, Decatur served as a
Navy CommissionerThe Board of Naval Commissioners was a United States Navy administrative body in existence from 1815 to 1842, with responsibility for the Navy's material support. The three-member Board was created as part of an expansion of the U.S. Navy Department at the end of the War of 1812. The system was...
. During his tenure as a Commissioner, Decatur became active in the Washington social scene. At one of his social gatherings, Decatur uttered an after-dinner toast that would become famous: "Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but right or wrong, our country!" This toast is often quoted as "My country, right or wrong!", although what Schurz actually said was, "Our country—when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right."
In 1818, in Washington, D.C., he built a house designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe. The
Decatur HouseDecatur House is one of the oldest surviving homes in Washington, D.C., and one of only three remaining houses in the country designed by neoclassical architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe. Completed in 1818 for naval hero Stephen Decatur and his wife, Susan, the Federal Style house is prominently...
, now a museum, was located on President's Square (Lafayette Square).
Death
In 1820, Commodore
James BarronJames Barron was an officer in the United States Navy.Barron was born in Hampton, Virginia, the son of a merchant captain named James Barron who became Commodore of the tiny Virginia State Navy during the American Revolution. He was a younger brother of Samuel Barron...
challenged Decatur to a
duelAs practiced from the 11th to 20th centuries in Western societies, a duel is an engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with their combat doctrines. In the modern application, the term is applied to aerial warfare between fighter pilots...
, relating in part to comments Decatur had made over Barron's conduct in the
Chesapeake-Leopard AffairIn the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, also referred to as the Chesapeake Affair, which occurred on June 22, 1807, the British fourth-rate warship attacked and boarded the American frigate .-The Attack:...
of 1807. Decatur had served on the court-martial that had found Barron guilty of unpreparedness, and had barred him from a command for the next five years.
Barron's second was Captain
Jesse ElliottJesse Duncan Elliot was a United States naval officer and commander of American naval forces in Lake Erie during the War of 1812, especially noted for his controversial actions during the Battle of Lake Erie.-Early life:...
, known for his antagonism to Decatur. Decatur asked his supposed friend Commodore
William BainbridgeWilliam Bainbridge was a Commodore in the United States Navy, notable for his victory over HMS Java during the War of 1812.-Biography:...
to be his second, to which Bainbridge consented. However, Decatur made a poor choice: Bainbridge had long been jealous of Decatur.
The duel was fought at Bladensburg Duelling Field in
Bladensburg, MarylandBladensburg is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 7,661 at the 2000 census.Bladensburg is from central Washington, DC...
(now in
Colmar Manor, MarylandColmar Manor is a town located in Prince George's County, Maryland. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,257. As the town developed at the beginning of the 20th century, it assumed a name derived from its proximity to the District of Columbia—the first syllable of Columbia...
), on 22 March 1820. Just before the duel, Barron spoke to Decatur of suggestive conciliation; however the men's seconds did not attempt to halt the proceedings. Decatur, an expert pistol shot, planned only to wound Barron. He inflicted a serious, though not mortal, wound to Barron's hip. However, Barron's shot mortally wounded Decatur in the abdomen. Decatur took 2 days to die in his home on Lafayette Square. He is said to have cried out, "I did not know that any man could suffer such pain!"
As Decatur lay dying at his home in Lafayette Square, there was a party at his house in honor of the recent marriage of First Daughter Maria Hester Monroe and her first cousin and White House staffer
Samuel L. GouverneurSamuel Laurence Gouverneur was the son of Nicholas Gouverneur and Hester Kortright . Samuel married Monroe's daughter , Maria Hester Monroe on March 9, 1820 in the first wedding ever held in the White House...
.
Stephen Decatur's funeral was attended by Washington's elite, including President
James MonroeJames Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . His administration was marked by the acquisition of Florida ; the Missouri Compromise , in which Missouri was declared a slave state; the admission of Maine in 1820 as a free state; and the profession of the Monroe Doctrine , declaring U.S...
and the justices of the Supreme Court, as well as most of Congress. Over 10,000 citizens of Washington attended to pay their last respects to a national hero.
His remains were temporarily deposited in the tomb of
Joel BarlowJoel Barlow was an American poet and politician-Biography:Barlow was born in Redding, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He briefly attended Dartmouth College before graduating from Yale University in 1778, where he was also a post-graduate student for two years...
at Washington, but later moved to Philadelphia, where they were interred at
St. Peter's ChurchSt. Peter's Church is located on the corner of Third and Pine streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It opened for worship on September 4, 1761 and served as a place of worship for many of the United States Founding Fathers during the period of the Continental Congresses. The current rector is The...
.
Stephen Decatur died childless. Though he left his widow $75,000, a fortune at the time, she died penniless in 1860.
Legacy
Five U.S. Navy ships have been named
USS DecaturFive ships of the United States Navy have been named Decatur, in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur.* The , was a sloop-of-war built in 1839 and in service from 1840 to 1859....
in his honor, along with numerous
locationsDecatur is the name of many places in the United States, most of which are named for Stephen Decatur, a United States Navy officer at the turn of the 19th Century.- Counties :...
. Many schools also bear his name.
An engraved portrait of Decatur appears on U.S. paper money on series 1886 $20 silver certificates.
Stephen Decatur's home in Washington, D.C. is a museum owned by the
National Trust for Historic PreservationThe National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities....
.
Forty-six communities in the United States have been named after Stephen Decatur, including:
- Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
- Decatur, Arkansas
Decatur is a city, in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,314 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World," was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500...
- Decatur, Indiana
Decatur is a city in Root and Washington townships, Adams County, Indiana, United States. Its population was 9,528 at the 2000 census. The city, which serves as the county seat of Adams County, takes its name after the prominent war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr., one of the captains of the original 6...
- Decatur, Michigan
Decatur is a village in Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,838 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Decatur Township...
- Decatur, Texas
Decatur is a city located in Wise County, Texas, United States. This city was named after Stephen Decatur, Jr. As of the 2007 census, the city had a total population of 5,478. It is the county seat of Wise County. Decatur is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and is located 25 miles northwest...
- Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 18,147 in the 2000 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
- Decatur County, Georgia
Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 28,240. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 28,544 . The county seat is Bainbridge, Georgia.-History:...
- Decatur County, Indiana
Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 24,555. The county seat is Greensburg.-Geography:According to the U.S...
- Decatur County, Iowa
Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 8,689 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Leon. This county is named for Stephen Decatur, Jr., a hero in the War of 1812.- Geography :According to the U.S...
- Decatur County, Kansas
Decatur County is a county located in Northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be 3,120 in the year 2006. Its county seat and most populous city is Oberlin. The county is named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.-History:The county was established...
- Decatur County, Tennessee
Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population is 11,731. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 11,686 . Its county seat is Decaturville.This county is named after war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr....
- Decatur Township, Indiana
Decatur Township is the smallest in geographic size and in population of the nine townships in Marion County, Indiana, United States. Located on the southwest corner of the county, the township is home to the new Indianapolis International Airport main terminal...
- Decaturville, Missouri
Decaturville, Missouri is an unincorporated community in Camden County. It is located on Route 5 nine miles south of Camdenton. The community was founded in 1838 and is named for Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr., , an American naval officer notable for his heroism in actions at Tripoli, Libya in the...
Schools in Illinois named after him:
- Stephen Decatur High School
Stephen Decatur High School, located in Decatur, Illinois, existed from 1975 to 2000. It was perhaps the first high school in Decatur to be handicapped accessible and to have air conditioning....
in Decatur, IllinoisDecatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World," was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500...
Schools in Indiana named after him:
- Stephen Decatur Elementary in Indianapolis, Indiana, Marion County, Decatur Township
Schools in Maryland have been named after him:
- Stephen Decatur High School
Stephen Decatur High School is a four-year public high school in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The school was opened in 1954.-About the School:...
in Berlin, MarylandBerlin is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of Berlin had its start around the 1790s, part of the Burley Plantation, a land grant dating back to 1677...
- Stephen Decatur Middle School in Berlin, Maryland
Berlin is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of Berlin had its start around the 1790s, part of the Burley Plantation, a land grant dating back to 1677...
- Stephen Decatur Middle School
Stephen Decatur Middle School is a Talented and Gifted magnet middle school located in Clinton, Maryland and is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system in the USA. It contains approximately 974 students in grades 6 through 8...
in Clinton, MarylandClinton is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Clinton was formerly known as Surrattsville until the time of the American Civil War. The population of Clinton was 26,064 at the 2000 census. However, as of 2007, there is an estimate...
Schools in New York State named after him:
- Stephen Decatur (Middle) School, PS 35, Brooklyn, New York
Maryland Route 611Maryland Route 611 is a state highway in Worcester County, Maryland. The route is named Stephen Decatur Highway, after naval officer Stephen Decatur. The route runs from U.S. Route 50 in West Ocean City south to the end of state maintenance at the entrance to Assateague State Park on Assateague...
, a road connecting
U.S. Route 50U.S. Route 50 is a major east-west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of Sacramento, it extended to San Francisco, near the Pacific...
to
Assateague IslandAssateague Island is a long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is best known for its herds of wild horses, pristine beaches, and the Assateague Lighthouse...
in
Worcester County, MarylandWorcester County is the easternmost county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. The county contains the entire length of the state's Atlantic coast line. It is home to the popular vacation resort area of Ocean City. It was named for an Earl of Worcester. Its county seat is Snow Hill...
, is named the Stephen Decatur Highway.
Decatur Street (New Orleans), is in the
French QuarterThe French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest and most famous neighborhood in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. When La Nouvelle Orléans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it...
in
New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major U.S. port and the largest city in the state of Louisiana. New Orleans is the center of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, the largest metro area in the state....
.
A nephew,
Stephen DecaturStephen A. Decatur was a nephew of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.. He was the one of the incorporators of Decatur, Nebraska.Born in New Jersey, he was the son of Captain John Pine Decatur, United States Army, and grandson of Stephen Decatur, Sr.....
(1815–1876), was an incorporator of
Decatur, NebraskaDecatur is a village in Burt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 618 at the 2000 census. This town is named after one of its incorporators, Stephen Decatur, who claimed to be the nephew of war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr.-Geography:...
.
Stephen Decatur was mentioned in the "Polk Street School" children's book series when lead character Richard Best copied his story out of an encyclopedia for a class project.
Jersey Devil
In the 1800s, Commodore Stephen Decatur visited the Hanover Iron Works in the New Jersey
Pine BarrensPine barrens, also known as pine plains, sand plains, pinelands, pine bush, and pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, occur throughout the northeastern U.S. from New Jersey to Maine as well as the Midwest and Canada...
to test cannonballs at a firing range, where he purportedly witnessed a strange, pale, white-winged creature overhead, which has been described as the "
Jersey DevilThe Jersey Devil, sometimes called the Leeds Devil, is a legendary creature or cryptid said to inhabit the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey. The creature is often described as a flying biped with hooves, but there are many variations...
." Using cannon fire, Decatur allegedly punctured the wing membrane of the creature, which continued flying, apparently unharmed, to the amazement of onlookers. The veracity of these events has been questioned by skeptics.
According to legend, was requested by President Monroe to collect data on the Leeds Devil Phenomena and report back. The expedition was also undertaken by Dr. James Killian, cryptozoologist. Although scientific in nature, the expedition was relegated to lore due to the unexpected death of Decatur. Killian, a shadow figure through the 19th century is famed for his work with other cryptids and legends, including the Bell Witch and Sasquatch, has recently seen a small increase in fame due to the organization that collects and protects his work.
Further reading
- De Kay, James Tertius. A Rage for Glory: The Life of Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN. Free Press, 2004. ISBN 0-7432-4245-9.
- London, Joshua E. Victory in Tripoli: How America's War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and Shaped a Nation. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005. ISBN 0-471-44415-4
- Oren, Michael B. Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present. New York: W.W. Norton, 2007 ISBN 0-3930-5826-3
External links