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Stephen Decatur

For other people named Stephen Decatur, see Stephen Decatur (disambiguation).

Stephen Decatur
Portrait by Charles Bird King
Birth nameStephen Decatur Jr.
Born(1779-01-05)January 5, 1779
Sinepuxent, Maryland
DiedMarch 22, 1820(1820-03-22) (aged 41)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Buried
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
BranchUnited States Navy
Years of service1798–1820
RankCommodore
Commands
Battles / wars
AwardsCongressional Gold Medal
Spouse(s)
Susan Wheeler
​
(m. 1806)​
Other workBoard of Navy Commissioners

Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr. (/dɪˈkeɪtər/;[1] January 5, 1779 – March 22, 1820) was a United States Navy officer. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland in Worcester County. His father, Stephen Decatur Sr., was a commodore in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War; he brought the younger Stephen into the world of ships and sailing early on. Shortly after attending college, Decatur followed in his father's footsteps and joined the U.S. Navy at age 19 as a midshipman.[2][3]

Decatur supervised the construction of several U.S. naval vessels, one of which he later commanded. Promoted at age 25, he is the youngest man to reach the rank of captain in the history of the United States Navy.[4] He served under three presidents and played a major role in the early development of the U.S. Navy. In almost every theater of operation, Decatur's service was characterized by acts of heroism and exceptional performance. His service in the U.S. Navy took him through both Barbary Wars in North Africa, the Quasi-War with France, and the War of 1812 with Britain. He was renowned for his natural ability to lead and for his genuine concern for the seamen under his command.[5] Decatur's naval victories in all three conflicts helped to establish the United States Navy as a rising power.

During this period he served aboard and commanded many naval vessels and ultimately became a member of the Board of Navy Commissioners. He built, in 1818, a large home in Washington known as Decatur House on Lafayette Square, and was at the center of Washington society in the early 19th century.[6] He became an affluent member of Washington society and counted James Monroe and other Washington dignitaries among his personal friends.[7]

Decatur's career came to an early end when he was killed in a duel with Commodore James Barron[8][9] after he refused to retract remarks he had made about Barron's conduct in the Chesapeake–Leopard affair in 1807. Decatur had emerged as a national hero in his own lifetime, becoming the first post–Revolutionary War hero. His name and legacy, like that of John Paul Jones, became identified with the United States Navy.[10][11]

  1. ^ "Decatur". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  2. ^ "Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN, (1779–1820)". Naval History & Heritage Command, Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
  3. ^ Waldo, 1821 Chapter I, Introductory.
  4. ^ Mackenzie, 1846, pp. 120–121; Allison, 2005, pp. 1–17.
  5. ^ Lewis, 1937, p. 55.
  6. ^ Guttridge, 2005, p. 83.
  7. ^ Guttridge, 2005, p. 226.
  8. ^ Waldo, 1821, pp. 289–293.
  9. ^ Mackenzie, 1846, pp. 320–325.
  10. ^ Waldo, 1821, p. 13.
  11. ^ Abbot, W. John, 1886, p. 70.

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