Washington District of Columbia
Biographies
Commodore John Rodgers
1772 - 1838
Furnished by : John Sharp
|
|---|
| Photo from : Naval Historical Center, Department of Navy
Portrait of
|
|
Commodore John Rodgers born Havre de Grace, Md., entered the Navy as Second Lieutenant 1798 and was assigned to Constellation. He helped capture French frigate L'Insurgente 9 February 1799 and took command of her as prize master. He was promoted to Captain 5 March 1799 and 3 months later took command of Maryland. In March 1801 he transported the ratified French-American Peace Treaty to France. Placed in command of John Adams the following year, he sailed for the Mediterranean to attack Barbary forts and gunboats at Tripoli. His brilliant record fighting the corsairs won him appointment as Commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron in May 1805. In the spring of 1811, upon word that a British ship was impressing American seaman off Sandy Hook, N.J., Commodore Rodgers, in President, was ordered to investigate. On 16 May he defeated British corvette Little Belt in a spirited engagement which foreshadowed his brilliant success in the coming war with England. On the sixth day of the War of 1812, still in President, Rodgers drove off British frigate Belvidera and chased her for 8 hours before she escaped. During the remainder of the war he captured 23 prizes and on land rendered valuable service defending Baltimore during the attack on Fort Henry. Following the war, Rodgers headed the Board of Navy Commissioners until retiring in May 1837. Commodore Rodgers was a close friend of Thomas Tingey and was appointed by Secretary Smith to chair the enquiry into the conduct of Commodore Tingey and other WNY employees (See letter of 10 December 1808)
Commodore Rodgers died in Philadelphia 1 August 1838. |
Return to :
Genealogy Trails - Washington D. C.
© 2007 Genealogy Trails by Wayne Hinton