James Barron | |
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| Born | (1768-09-15)September 15, 1768 Hampton, Virginia,British America |
| Died | April 21, 1851(1851-04-21) (aged 82) Norfolk, Virginia, US |
| Buried | Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery,Portsmouth, Virginia, US |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1798–1851 |
| Rank | Commodore (USN) |
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| Battles / wars | |
James Barron (September 15, 1768 – April 21, 1851) was an officer in theUnited States Navy.[n 1] He served in theQuasi-War and theBarbary Wars, during which he commanded a number of famous ships, includingUSS Essex andUSS President. As commander of thefrigateUSS Chesapeake, he was involved in theChesapeake–Leopard affair in 1807 which led to the surrender of his ship to the British and resulted in him beingcourt-martialed for his actions during the incident. After criticism from some fellow officers, the resulting controversy led Barron to aduel withStephen Decatur, one of the officers who presided over his court-martial. Suspended from command, he pursued commercial interests in Europe during theWar of 1812. Barron finished his naval career on shore duty, becoming the Navy's senior officer in 1839.
Barron was born inHampton, Virginia, the son of a merchant captain named James Barron who became Commodore of the tinyVirginia State Navy during theAmerican Revolution. He was a younger brother ofSamuel Barron. As a boy, Barron served as an apprentice in with his father for several years and entered the navy as a lieutenant and served aboardUnited States underJohn Barry. For his exceptional ability and service Barron was promoted to captain in 1799.[1]
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On March 9, 1798, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the newly createdUnited States Navy. Barron demonstrated superior seamanship abilities as an officer of thefrigateUnited States. Two years later, he was promoted tocaptain and commanded thesloop-of-warWarren during the final months of theQuasi-War withFrance.[2][3]
In a letter dated 13 August, 1802 he was ordered to take command ofUSS New York at theWashington Navy Yard.[4]
Early in 1804 Barron supervised the building of gunboats at Hampton, Virginia. Barron was given command ofUSS Essex on April 11, 1804, during theFirst Barbary War and sailed to the Mediterranean to serve in the squadron commanded by his brother, Commodore Samuel Barron, protecting Americanmerchantmen and blockading the Tripolian harbor until May 22, 1805. Because of health problems he relinquished command of the squadron to CommodoreJohn Rodgers.
On June 25, 1805, Barron, along withStephen Decatur and others, presided over the court of inquiry, held aboardUSS Constitution atSyracuse, which looked intoWilliam Bainbridge's grounding and loss ofUSS Philadelphia nearTripoli's harbor.[5]
On April 15, 1806, he was appointed to the command of the Mediterranean Squadron.[3] Barron obtained the rank ofcommodore on April 22 and was assigned command ofUSS Chesapeake the following year.Chesapeake was berthed at Norfolk and was outfitted for her upcoming mission in great haste with a green crew and equipment that was below standards.[6]
Barron commanded the frigateChesapeake as a commodore. On June 22, 1807, his ship was involved in theChesapeake–Leopard affair, an engagement that resulted in the defeat and capture of Barron's ship, one in a long line of such British incursions. TheBritish ship of the lineHMS Leopard hailed his frigate outside ofHampton Roads and asked to search for British Navy deserters. Barron refused.Leopard then opened fire onChesapeake, killing three crewmen and wounding eighteen. Caught completely unprepared for battle, Barron surrendered. A British party boarded his ship and took away four alleged deserters.
In January 1808, acourt-martial was held, and Barron was convicted of not preparing his ship in advance for possible action, and was suspended for five years without pay. John Rodgers was the president of the court-martial, and Stephen Decatur was a member.[7]
After being away for six years, Barron finally returned fromCopenhagen seeking reinstatement, but he remained controversial and was criticized by some of his fellow officers. CommodoreStephen Decatur, a former subordinate, was one of the most vocal.[7] Barron became embittered towards Decatur and challenged him to aduel with pistols, which they fought on March 22, 1820.[8][9]
Barron's challenge to Decatur occurred during a period when duels between officers were so common that it was creating a shortage of experienced officers, forcing theWar Department to threaten to discharge those who attempted to pursue the practice.[10]
The duel was arranged by Bainbridge withJesse Elliott in such a way that made the wounding or death of both duelists very likely. The duelists would be standing face to face in proximity to each other; there would be no back-to-back pacing away and turning to fire, the practice of which often resulted in the missing of one's opponent. After taking their places Barron and Decatur were instructed by Bainbridge, "I shall give the word quickly – 'Present, one, two, three' – You are neither to fire before the word 'one', nor after the word 'three'." Now in their positions, each duelist raised his pistol, cocked the flintlock and waited for the call where Bainbridge then called out, 'One', Decatur and Barron both firing before the count of 'two'. Decatur's shot hit Barron in the lower abdomen and ricocheted into his thigh. Barron's shot hit Decatur in the pelvic area, severing arteries. Both of the duelists fell almost at the same instant. Decatur, mortally wounded and clutching his side, exclaimed, "Oh, Lord, I am a dead man." Lying wounded, Commodore Barron proclaimed that the duel was carried out properly and honorably and told Decatur that he forgave him from the bottom of his heart. Decatur died from his wounds at approximately 10:30 pm that night while Barron survived his.[11][12]
Barron remained in the Navy on shore duty, becoming the Navy's senior officer in 1839.[13] He died inNorfolk, Virginia, on April 21, 1851. His personal papers, which primarily relate to theChesapeake–Leopard affair, can be found in theSpecial Collections Research Center at theCollege of William & Mary.[14]
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