Stephen Decatur | |
|---|---|
 Portrait byCharles Bird King | |
| Birth name | Stephen Decatur Jr. |
| Born | (1779-01-05)January 5, 1779 |
| Died | March 22, 1820(1820-03-22) (aged 41) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1798–1820 |
| Rank | Commodore |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal |
| Spouse | |
| Other work | Board of Navy Commissioners |
Stephen Decatur Jr. (/dɪˈkeɪtər/;[1] January 5, 1779 – March 22, 1820) was aUnited States Navy officer. He was born on the eastern shore ofMaryland inWorcester County. His father,Stephen Decatur Sr., was a commodore in theContinental Navy during theAmerican 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 amidshipman.[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 ofcaptain 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 bothBarbary Wars in North Africa, theQuasi-War with France, and theWar of 1812 with Britain. He was renowned for his natural ability to lead and for his genuine concern for theseamen 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 theBoard of Navy Commissioners. He built, in 1818, a large home inWashington known asDecatur House onLafayette Square, and was at the center of Washington society in the early 19th century.[6] He became an affluent member of Washington society and countedJames Monroe and other Washington dignitaries among his personal friends.[7]
In 1820, Decatur's career came to an early end when he was killed in aduel with CommodoreJames Barron[8][9] after he refused to retract remarks he had made about Barron's conduct in theChesapeake–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 ofJohn Paul Jones, became identified with the United States Navy.[10][11]
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Decatur was born on January 5, 1779, inSinepuxent, Maryland,[a] toStephen Decatur Sr., a merchant captain and later an officer in the young American navy during theAmerican Revolution, and his wife Ann (Pine) Decatur. The family of Decatur was of French descent on Stephen's father's side, while his mother's family was of English and Irish ancestry.[12][13] His parents had arrived fromPhiladelphia just three months before Stephen was born, fleeing the city during theAmerican Revolutionary War due to its occupation by British forces. They later returned to the same residence they had once left in Philadelphia[14] and Decatur grew up there, eventually graduating from the Episcopal Academy.[15]
Decatur came to love the sea and sailing in a roundabout manner. When Stephen was eight years old, he developed a severe case ofwhooping cough. In those days, a supposed tonic for this condition was exposure to the salt air of the sea. It was decided that Stephen Jr. would accompany his father aboard amerchant ship on his next voyage to Europe. Sailing across theAtlantic and back proved to be an effective remedy, and Decatur came home completely recovered. In the days following young Stephen's return, he was jubilant about his adventure on the high sea and spoke of wanting to go sailing often. His parents had different aspirations, especially his mother who had hopes that Stephen would one day become anEpiscopal clergyman, and tried to discourage the eight-year-old from such jaunty ambitions, fearing such would distract Stephen from his studies.[16][17]
Decatur attended Woodbury Academy inWoodbury, New Jersey.[18] At the direction of his father, Decatur attended theEpiscopal Academy,[19] at the time an all-boys school that specialized in Latin, mathematics, and religion; however, Decatur had not applied himself adequately, and barely graduated from the academy. He then enrolled for one year at theUniversity of Pennsylvania in 1795,[20] where he better applied himself and focused on his studies. At the university, Decatur met and became friends withCharles Stewart andRichard Somers, who would later become naval officers themselves.[21]
Decatur found theclassic studies prosaic and life at the university disagreeable, and at the age of 17, with his heart and mind set on ships and the sea, discontinued his studies there. Though his parents were not pleased with his decision, they continued to be supportive of him.[22] Through his father's influence, Stephen gained employment at the shipbuilding firm of Gurney and Smith, business associates of his father, acting as supervisor to the early construction of the frigateUnited States.[23][24] He was serving on board this vessel as a midshipman when it was launched on May 10, 1797,[17] under the command ofCommodore John Barry.[25]
In the years leading up to theQuasi-War, an undeclared naval war with the revolutionaryFrench Republic involving disputes over U.S. trading and shipping with Britain, theU.S. Congress passed the 'Act to provide for a Naval Armament' on March 27, 1794. The act provided for the commissioning ofsix frigates for the Navy. It was promptly signed byGeorge Washington that same day. There was much opposition to the bill, and it was amended and allowed to pass with the condition that work on the proposed ships would stop in the event that peace with thePasha of Algiers was obtained.[26] Construction of the six new Americanfrigates was progressing slowly when, because of apeace accord withAlgiers in March 1796, work was halted. After some debate and at the insistence of President Washington, Congress passed an act on April 20, 1796, allowing the construction and funding to continue, but only on the three ships nearest to completion at the time:USS United States,USS Constellation andUSS Constitution.[27]
In 1798,John Barry obtained Decatur's appointment as amidshipman aboardUnited States, under Barry's command. Barry was a veteran and hero of the Revolutionary War and was Decatur's good friend and mentor. Decatur accepted the appointment on May 1.[25] During his early naval career Decatur learned the arts of naval war under Barry, and alsoJames Barron, both of whom took a liking to Decatur.[28]
To ensure his son's success in his naval career, the senior Decatur hired a tutor, Talbot Hamilton, a former officer of theRoyal Navy, to instruct his son in navigational and nautical sciences. While serving aboardUnited States Decatur received what was the equivalent to formal naval training not only from Hamilton but through active service aboard a commissioned ship, which is something that distinguished the young midshipman from many of his contemporaries.[29][30] He also had a talent for drawing ships and designing and building ship models and when time allowed would also pursue this hobby.[22][31]
Once the United States won its independence and no longer had the protection of Britain, it was faced with the task of protecting its own ships and interests. There were few American ships capable of defending the American coastline, much less of protectingmerchant ships at sea and abroad.[32] The few warships that were available were converted into merchant ships. The French in particular were outraged that America was still involved in trading with Britain, a country with whom they were at war, and because of American refusal to pay a debt that was owed to the French crown, which had just been overthrown by the newly established French Republic. As a result, France began intercepting American ships that were involved in trading with Britain.[33][34] This provocation prompted PresidentAdams to appointBenjamin Stoddert as the first Secretary of the Navy. Stoddert immediately ordered his senior commanders to "subdue, seize and take any armed vessel or vessels sailing under the authority or pretense of authority, from the French Republic."[34] At this time, America was not even ranked with European naval forces.[35]
On May 22, 1799, Decatur was promoted to lieutenant by PresidentJohn Adams[36] after serving for more than a year as a midshipman aboard the frigateUnited States. WhileUnited States was undergoing repairs Decatur received orders to remain inPhiladelphia to recruit and assemble a crew for the vessel. While there, thechief mate of anIndiaman, using foul language, made several derogatory remarks about Decatur and the U.S. Navy, apparently because he had lost some of his crew to Decatur's recruiting efforts. Decatur remained calm and left the scene without further incident. When he related the matter to his father, however, Captain Decatur stressed that the honor of the family and of the Navy had been insulted and that his son should return and challenge the chief mate to a duel. Stephen's friend and shipmate, Lieutenant Somers, was sent ahead with a letter from Decatur asking if an apology could be obtained from the man. Refusing to apologize, the chief mate instead accepted Decatur's challenge and secured a location for the duel. Decatur, being an expert shot with a pistol, told his friend LieutenantCharles Stewart that he believed his opponent not to be as able and he would thus endeavor to only wound his opponent in the hip, which is exactly how the duel turned out. The honor and courage of both duelists having been satisfied, the matter was resolved without a fatality.[37][38]
By July 1, 1799,United States had been refitted and repaired and commenced its mission to patrol the South Atlantic coast andWest Indies in search of French ships which were preying on American merchant vessels. After completing this mission the ship was taken toNorfolk, Virginia, for minor repairs, and then set sail forNewport, Rhode Island, arriving on September 12. While the ship was berthed there, Commodore Barry received orders to prepare for a voyage to transport two U.S. envoys to Spain and on December 3 sailed onUnited States forLisbon via England. During the crossing the ship encounteredgale force winds, and at their insistence, the two envoys were dropped off at the nearest port in England.[39] Upon returning home and arriving on theDelaware River on April 3, 1800, it was discovered thatUnited States had incurred damage from the storms she had weathered at sea. Consequently, the vessel was taken up the Delaware toChester, Pennsylvania, for repairs.[40] Not wanting to remain withUnited States during the months of repairs and outfitting, Decatur obtained a transfer to the brigUSS Norfolk[41] under the command of Thomas Calvert. In May theNorfolk sailed to the West Indies to patrol its waters looking for French privateers andmen-of-war. During the months that followed 25 armed enemy craft were captured or destroyed. With orders to rendezvous with merchantmen bound for America,Norfolk continued on toCartagena (Colombia) with orders to escort the ships back to the United States, protecting them from pirates and privateers.[42]
Decatur transferred back toUnited States by June 1800; with extra guns and sails and improved structure, the refurbished ship made her way down the Delaware River. Aboard the ship at this time were Decatur's former classmates LieutenantCharles Stewart and MidshipmanRichard Somers, along with Lieutenant James Barron.[43]
Following the Quasi-War, the U.S. Navy underwent a significant reduction of active ships and officers; Decatur was one of the few selected to remain commissioned. By the time hostilities with France came to a close, America had a renewed appreciation for the value of a navy. By 1801 the American Navy consisted of 42 naval vessels, three of which wereUSS President,Constellation andUSS Chesapeake.[44]
The first war against theBarbary States was in response to the frequent piracy of American vessels in theMediterranean Sea and the capture andenslavement of American crews for huge ransoms. PresidentJefferson, known for his aversion to standing armies and the navy, acted contrary to such sentiment and began his presidency by sending U.S. naval forces to fight the Barbary states rather than continue paying huge annual tributes to thepetty North African kingdoms. On May 13, 1801, at the beginning of the war, Decatur was assigned duty aboard the frigateUSS Essex to serve as the first lieutenant.Essex, bearing 32 guns, was commanded byWilliam Bainbridge and was attached to CommodoreRichard Dale's squadron[45] which also includedUSS Philadelphia,President andUSS Enterprise. Departing for the Mediterranean on June 1, this squadron was the first American naval squadron to cross the Atlantic.[46]
On July 1, after encountering and being forestalled by adverse winds, the squadron sailed into the Mediterranean with the mission to confront theBarbary pirates. Arriving atGibraltar, Commodore Dale learned thatTripoli had already declared war upon the United States. At this time there were two Tripolitan warships of sizable consequence berthed in Gibraltar's harbour, but their captains claimed that they had no knowledge of the war. Dale assumed they were about to embark on the Atlantic to prey on American merchant ships. With orders to sail forAlgiers,Tunis and Tripoli, Dale ordered thatPhiladelphia be left behind to guard the Tripolitan vessels.[47]
In September 1802, Decatur transferred to the 36-gun frigateUSS New York as 1st Lieutenant under Commodore James Barron. While en route to Tripoli the five-ship squadron to whichNew York was attached encountered gale-force winds, lasting more than a week, which forced the squadron to put up inMalta. While there Decatur and another American officer were involved in a personal confrontation with a British officer which resulted in Decatur returning to the United States. There he took temporary command of the newly built 18-gunbrigUSS Argus[48] which he sailed to Gibraltar, relinquishing command of the ship upon arrival to LieutenantIsaac Hull. In exchange Decatur was given command ofEnterprise, a 12-gunschooner.[49]
On December 23, 1803,Enterprise andUSS Constitution confronted the TripolitanketchMastico sailing underTurkish colors, armed with only two guns and sailing without passports on her way toConstantinople from Tripoli. On board were a small number of Tripolitan soldiers. After a brief engagement Decatur and his crew captured the ship, killing or wounding the few men defending the vessel. After its capture the small ship was taken toSyracuse, condemned byCommodore Preble as a legitimateprize of war, and given a new name,USS Intrepid.[50]
On October 31, 1803,Philadelphia, under the command of CommodoreWilliam Bainbridge, ran aground on an uncharted reef (known as Kaliusa reef) near Tripoli's harbor. After desperate and failed attempts to refloat the ship, she was subsequently captured and her crew imprisoned by Tripolitan forces. After coming up with an elaborate plan,[51] Decatur sailed for Tripoli with 80 volunteers (most of them being U.S. Marines) intending to enter the harbor withIntrepid without suspicion to board and set ablaze the frigatePhiladelphia, denying its use to the corsairs.USS Syren,[b] commanded by LieutenantCharles Stewart, accompaniedIntrepid to provide supporting fire during and after the assault. Before entering the harbor eight sailors fromSyren boardedIntrepid, includingThomas Macdonough, who had recently served aboardPhiladelphia and knew the ship's layout intimately.[53] Decatur established a close friendship with Macdonough and became his mentor during the course of their careers.[54]
On February 16, 1804, at seven o'clock in the evening under the dim light of a waxing crescent moon,Intrepid slowly sailed into Tripoli harbor. Decatur's vessel was made to look like a common merchant ship from Malta and was outfitted withBritish colours. To further avert suspicion, on board were five Sicilian volunteers including the pilotSalvatore Catalano, who spokeArabic. The boarding party remained hidden below in position, prepared to board the capturedPhiladelphia. The men were divided into several groups, each assigned to secure given areas of the ship, with the additional explicit instruction of refraining from the use of firearms unless it proved absolutely necessary.[55] As Decatur's ship came closer toPhiladelphia, Catalano called out to the harbor personnel in Arabic that their ship had lost her anchors during a recent storm and was seeking refuge at Tripoli for repairs.[56] By 9:30 p.m. Decatur's ship was within 200 yards ofPhiladelphia, whoselower yards were now resting on the deck with her foremast missing, as Bainbridge had ordered it cut away and had also jettisoned some of her guns in a futile effort to refloat the ship by lightening her load.[57]
As Decatur approached the berthedPhiladelphia he encountered a light wind that made his approach tedious. He had to casually position his ship close enough toPhiladelphia to allow his men to board while not creating any suspicion. When the two vessels were finally close enough, Catalano obtained permission for Decatur to tieIntrepid to the capturedPhiladelphia. Decatur surprised the few Tripolitans on board when he shouted the order "board!", signaling to the hidden crew below to emerge and storm the captured ship.[58] Without losing a single man, Decatur and 60 of his men, dressed as Maltese sailors or Arab seamen and armed with swords and boardingpikes, boarded and reclaimedPhiladelphia in less than 10 minutes, killing at least 20 of the Tripolitan crew, capturing one wounded crewman, and forcing the rest to flee by jumping overboard. Only one of Decatur's men was slightly wounded by asabre blade. There was hope that the small boarding crew could launch the captured ship, but the vessel was in no condition to set sail for the open sea. Decatur soon realized that the smallIntrepid could not tow the larger and heavier warship out of the harbor. Commodore Preble's order to Decatur was to destroyPhiladelphia where she berthed as a last resort, if she was unseaworthy. With the ship secure, Decatur's crew began placing combustibles aboutPhiladelphia with orders to set her ablaze. After making sure the fire was large enough to sustain itself, Decatur ordered his men to abandon the ship and was the last man to leave.[59] As the flames intensified, the guns aboardPhiladelphia, all loaded and ready for battle, became heated and began discharging, some firing into the town and shore batteries, while the ropes securing the ship burned off, allowing the vessel to drift into the rocks at the western entrance of the harbor.[60]
WhileIntrepid was under fire from the Tripolitans who were now gathering along the shore and in small boats, the largerSyren was nearby providing covering fire at the Tripolitan shore batteries and gunboats. Decatur and his men left the burning vessel in Tripoli's harbor and set sail for the open sea, barely escaping in the confusion. With the cover of night helping to obscure the enemy gunfire,Intrepid andSyren made their way back to Syracuse, arriving February 18.[61][62] After learning of Decatur's detachment's daring capture and destruction ofPhiladelphia without suffering a single fatality, British Vice Admiral LordHoratio Nelson, who at the time was blockading the French port atToulon, is said to have stated it was "the most bold and daring act of the Age."[63][64][65] Decatur's exploit made him an immediate national hero in the US.[52][66] Appreciation for the efforts of Preble and Decatur was not limited to their peers and countrymen. AtNaples, Decatur was praised and dubbed "Terror of the Foe" by the local media. Upon hearing the news of their victory in Tripoli,Pope Pius VII publicly declared that "the United States, though in their infancy, had done more to humble and humiliate the anti-Christian barbarians on the African coast in one night than all the European states had done for a long period of time."[67] Upon his return to Syracuse, Decatur resumed command ofEnterprise.[68]
With the significant victory achieved with the burning ofPhiladelphia,Preble now had reason to believe that bringing Tripoli to peaceful terms was in sight. Preble planned another attack on Tripoli and amassed a squadron consisting of the frigateConstitution, the brigsSyren,Argus andScourge, and the schoonersNautilus,Vixen andEnterprise, towing gunboats and ketches.
For the coming attack Preble borrowed six gunboats fromKing Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies who was also at war with Tripoli. Light vessels with shallow drafts were needed to make their way about in the shallow and confined waters of Tripoli's harbor.[c] Making their way into the west end of Tripoli harbor, they began bombarding Tripoli on August 3, 1804.[70][71]
Preble divided his gunboats into two divisions, putting Decatur in command of the second division. At 1:30 Preble raised his signal flag to begin the attack on Tripoli. It was elaborate and well planned with brigs, schooners and bomb ketches coming into the attack at various stages.[72] The Tripolitanpasha,Murad Reis, was expecting the attack and had his own gunboats lined up and waiting at various locations within the harbor.[73][74]
Throughout the month of August 1804 Preble used these gunboats to launch a series of furious attacks on Tripoli, forcing the residents to flee into the countryside. During this time, Decatur in command of the gunboats captured three Tripolitan gunboats and sank three others.[71] The Tripolitans also inflicted considerable damage on some of the attacking vessels; Decatur's ship was struck with a 24-pound shot through her hull above the waterline. Before the battle endedUSS John Adams, commanded byIsaac Chauncey, arrived on the scene. On board the vessel were official documents promoting Decatur to the rank ofcaptain.John Adams also brought news that, upon the loss of the frigatePhiladelphia, the government was sending four additional frigates,President,Congress,Constellation andEssex, to Tripoli with enough force to convince the Pasha of Tripoli that peace was his only viable alternative. Because Preble's rank was not high enough for this commandJohn Adams also brought the news that he would have to surrender command to Barron.[75]
The fighting between the squadrons and the bombarding of Tripoli lasted three hours, with Preble's squadrons emerging victorious.[76] However, success and promotion were overshadowed by an unfortunate turn of events for Decatur. During the fighting Decatur's younger brother,James Decatur, in command of a gunboat, was mortally wounded by a Tripolitan captain during the boarding of a vessel feigning surrender.[77][78] Midshipman Brown, who was next in command after James, managed to break away from the ambushing vessel and immediately approached Decatur's gunboat bringing the news of his brother's fatal injury. Decatur had just captured his first Tripolitan vessel and upon receiving the news turned command of his captured prize over to LieutenantJonathan Thorn and immediately set out to avenge his brother's treacherous injury.[79][80] After catching up with and pulling alongside the Tripolitan ship, Decatur was the first to board the enemy vessel with Midshipman Macdonough at his heels along with nine volunteer crew members. Decatur and his crew were outnumbered 5 to 1 but were organized and kept their form, fighting furiously side by side.[81] Decatur had little trouble singling out the corsair captain, the man responsible for James' mortal wound, and immediately engaged the man. He was a large and formidable man in Muslim garb, and armed with a boarding pike he thrust his weapon at Decatur's chest. Armed with acutlass Decatur deflected the lunge, breaking his own weapon at the hilt.[82] During the fight Decatur was almost killed by another Tripolitan crew member, but his life was spared by the already woundedDaniel Frazier,[83][84][d] a crewman who threw himself over Decatur just in time, receiving a blow intended for Decatur to his own head; Frazier's act of heroism later got wrongly attributed toReuben James. The struggle continued, with the Tripolitan captain, being larger and stronger than Decatur, gaining the upper hand. Armed with a dagger the Tripolitan attempted to stab Decatur in the heart, but while wrestling the arm of his adversary, Decatur managed to take hold of his pistol and fired a shotpoint-blank, immediately killing his formidable foe.[87] When the fighting was over, 21 Tripolitans were dead with only three taken alive.[88][89]
Later James Decatur was taken aboardConstitution where he was joined by his brother Stephen, who stayed with him until he had died. The next day, after a funeral and military ceremony that was conducted by Preble, Stephen Decatur saw his brother's remains committed to the depths of the Mediterranean.[90]
When a good number of days passed without the reinforcements of ships promised by PresidentJefferson, the attack on Tripoli was renewed byPreble on August 24. As the days passed, Tripoli showed no signs of surrender, which now prompted Preble to devise another plan.Intrepid, the same ship that capturedPhiladelphia, was loaded with barrels of gunpowder and other ordnance and sent sailing into a group of Tripolitan vessels defending the harbor, commanded by Lieutenant Richard Somers, with Midshipman Henry Wadsworth and eleven volunteers. The plan was to place the ketch amidst the Tripolitan ships, light the fuzes, and evacuate to ships awaiting their return at the harbor entrance, but somehow the plan went awry, exploding prior to arriving at its target, killing all aboard. The siege of the harbor and Tripoli, with the momentous capture of the fortress of Derna by US Marines ("the shores of Tripoli") proved successful and ultimately caused the Bashaw of Tripoli to consider surrender and the return of American prisoners held captive, including Commodore Bainbridge ofPhiladelphia, who had been held prisoner since October 1803 when that ship was captured after running aground near Tripoli harbor. On June 4, 1805, the Bashaw of Tripoli finally surrendered and signed a peace treaty with the United States.[91]
Shortly after his recapture and destruction ofPhiladelphia, Decatur was given command of the frigateConstitution, a post he held from October 28 to November 9, 1804.[92][93] Upon the day of Decatur's return withIntrepid,Commodore Preble wrote to Secretary of the NavyBenjamin Stoddert recommending to President Jefferson that Decatur be promoted to captain. Decatur was promoted to captain with the date of rank February 16, 1804.[94] He was promoted to captain at the age twenty-five, largely for his daring capture and destruction ofPhiladelphiain Tripoli's harbor, making him the youngest man ever to hold the rank.[95][96][97]
On September 10, 1804, Barron arrived at Tripoli with two ships,President andConstellation, whereupon Commodore Preble relinquished command of his blockading squadron to him. Before returning to the United States he sailed to Malta inConstitution on September 14, so it could be caulked and refitted. From there he sailed to Syracuse inArgus, where on September 24 he ordered Decatur to sail this vessel back to Malta to take command ofConstitution. From here Decatur sailedConstitution back to Tripoli to joinConstellation andCongress, the blockading force stationed there now under the command of Barron. On November 6, he relinquished command ofConstitution to CommodoreJohn Rodgers, his senior, in exchange for the smaller vesselCongress. In need of new sails and other repairs Rodgers sailedConstitution to Lisbon on November 27, where it remained for approximately six weeks.[98][99]
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On March 8, 1806, Decatur married Susan Wheeler, the daughter of Luke Wheeler, the mayor ofNorfolk, Virginia. She was well known for her beauty and intelligence among Norfolk and Washington society. They had met at a dinner and ball held by the mayor for aTunisian ambassador who was in the United States negotiating peace terms for his country's recent defeat atTunis under the silent guns ofJohn Rodgers and Decatur.[100][101] Before marrying Susan, Decatur had already vowed to serve in the U.S. Navy and maintained that to abandon his service to his country for personal reasons would make him unworthy of her hand. Susan was once pursued by Vice PresidentAaron Burr andJérôme Bonaparte, brother toNapoleon, both of whom she turned down. For several months after their marriage the couple resided with Susan's parents in Norfolk, after which Stephen received orders sending him to Newport to supervise the building of gunboats.[102][103][104] The couple never had children during their fourteen years of marriage.[105]
In the spring of 1806, Decatur was given command of a squadron ofgunboats stationed in theChesapeake Bay at Norfolk, Virginia, the home of his future wife, Susan Wheeler. He had long requested such an assignment; however, one of his colleagues believed that his request was also motivated by a desire to be close to Wheeler. While stationed here Decatur took the opportunity to court Miss Wheeler, whom he would soon marry that year. After their marriage in March, Decatur lived with his wife's family in Norfolk until June when Secretary of the NavyRobert Smith gave him orders to supervise the building of four gunboats at Newport, Rhode Island, and four others in Connecticut of which he would later take command. Having drawn many illustrations of and designed and built many models of ships, along with having experience as a ship builder and designer from when he was employed at Gurney and Smith in 1797 while overseeing the construction of the frigateUnited States, Decatur was a natural choice for this new position. Decatur and his wife Susan lived together all through this period.[104][106][107]
After overseeing the completion of gunboats, Decatur returned to Norfolk in March 1807 and was given command of theNaval Yard at Gosport. While commissioned there he received a letter from the residing British consul to turn over three deserters from the British shipMelampus who had enlisted in the American Navy throughLieutenant Arthur Sinclair, who was recruiting crew members forChesapeake, which was at this time in Washington being outfitted for its coming voyage to the Mediterranean.[108][109] Since the recruiting party was not under the command of Decatur, he refused to intervene. Sinclair also declined to take any action, claiming that he did not have the authority or any such orders from a superior officer. The matter was then referred to the British minister at Washington, a Mr. Erskine, who in turn referred the matter to the Navy Department through Barron, demanding that the three deserters be surrendered to British authority. It was soon discovered that the deserters were American citizens who had been impressed into the Royal Navy, and since the existing American treaty with Britain only pertained to criminal fugitives of justice, not deserters in the military, Barron accordingly also refused to turn them over.[110]
Soon thereafterChesapeake left Norfolk, and after stopping briefly at Washington for further preparations, set sail for the Mediterranean on June 22. In little time she was pursued byHMS Leopard, which at the time was part of a British squadron inLynnhaven Bay. Upon closing withChesapeake, Barron was hailed by the captain ofLeopard and informed of a demand from Vice-Admiral Humphreys thatChesapeake be searched for deserters. Barron found the demand extraordinarily bold. When he refused to surrender any of his crew,Leopard soon opened fire onChesapeake. Having just put to sea,Chesapeake was not prepared to do battle and was unable to return fire. Inside twenty minutes, three of her crew were killed and eighteen wounded. Barron struck the ship's colors[e] and surrendered his ship, whereupon she was boarded and the alleged deserters were taken into British custody. News of the incident soon reached President Jefferson, the Department of the Navy and Decatur, who was outraged, was the one who was first confronted with the matter. The incident soon came to be referred to as theChesapeake–Leopard affair,[111][112][113] an event whose controversy would lead to a duel between Barron and Decatur some years later, as Decatur served on Barron'scourt-martial and later was one of the most outspoken critics of the questionable handling ofChesapeake.[114][115]
On June 26, 1807, Decatur was appointed to commandChesapeake, a 38-gun frigate, along with command of all gunboats at Norfolk.[116]Chesapeake had just returned to Norfolk after repairs to damage incurred during theChesapeake–Leopard affair. Barron had just been relieved of command following his court martial over the incident. Decatur was a member of that court martial, which had found Barron guilty of "unpreparedness", barring him from command for five years.[117] Consequently, Barron's previous orders to sail for the Mediterranean were canceled andChesapeake was instead assigned to Commodore Decatur, with a squadron of gunboats, to patrol theNew England coast enforcing theEmbargo Act throughout 1809. Unable to command, Barron left the country forCopenhagen and remained there through the War of 1812.[118] Before Decatur assumed command ofChesapeake he learned from observers, and then informed the Navy Secretary, that the British shipsHMS Bellona andHMS Triumph were lightening their ballasts to prepare for a blockade at Norfolk.[119]
During this segment of his life, Decatur's father, Stephen Decatur Sr., died in November 1808 at the age of 57, with his mother's death following the next year. Both parents were buried atSt. Peter's Church in Philadelphia.[120]
In May 1810, Decatur was appointed commander ofUnited States, a heavy frigate with 44 guns. This was the same vessel that he supervised the building of while employed at Gurney and Smith, and the same ship, then under the command ofJohn Barry, on which he had commenced his naval career as midshipman in 1798. The frigate had just been commissioned and was outfitted and supplied for service at sea. After taking command ofUnited States, now the rallying point of the young American Navy, Decatur sailed to most of the naval ports on theeastern seaboard and was well received at each stop.[121][122] On May 21, 1811, he sailedUnited States from Norfolk along withUSS Hornet on assignment to patrol the coast, returning to Norfolk on November 23 of that year. In 1812 he sailed withArgus andCongress but were soon recalled upon receiving news about the outbreak of war with Britain. There Decatur joined CaptainJohn Rodgers, commander ofPresident and his squadron. On this cruise Rodgers failed to accomplish his mission of intercepting the fleet of English West-Indiamen. On August 31, Decatur sailedUnited States to Boston. On October 8, he sailed a second cruise with Rodgers' squadron.[123]
The desire for expansion into theNorthwest Territory, the capture and impressment of American citizens into the Royal Navy along with British alliance with, and recruitment of, American Indian tribes against America, were all events that led into theWar of 1812.[124] Intended to avoid war, theEmbargo Act only compounded matters that led to war. Finally on June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain.[125] By 1814 Britain had committed nearly 100 warships along the American coast and other points. Consequently, the war was fought mostly in the naval theater where Decatur and other naval officers played major roles in the success of the United States' efforts during this time.[126]
Upon the onset of the war PresidentJames Madison ordered several naval vessels to be dispatched to patrol the American coastline. The U.S. flagshipsPresident,Essex and theHornet were joined in lowerNew York harbor byUnited States commanded by Decatur,Congress, andArgus. Secretary of StateJames Monroe[f] had originally considered a plan that would simply use U.S. naval vessels as barriers guarding their entrances, but the unpopular plan never materialized.[127]
Three days after the United States declared war against Britain, a squadron under the command of CommodoreJohn Rodgers inPresident, along with Commodore Stephen Decatur ofUnited States,Argus,Essex andHornet, departed from the harbor at New York City.[128] As soon as Rodgers received news of the declaration of war, fearing that the order to confine naval ships to port would be reconsidered by Congress, he and his squadron departed New York bay within the hour. The squadron patrolled the waters off the American Upper East Coast until the end of August, their first objective being a British fleet reported to have recently departed from the West Indies.[129]
Rodgers' squadron again sailed on October 8, 1812, this time from Boston, Massachusetts. Three days later, after capturingMandarin, Decatur separated from Rodgers and his squadron and withUnited States continued to cruise eastward. At dawn on October 25, five hundred miles south of theAzores, lookouts on board reported seeing a sail 12 miles to windward. As the ship slowly rose over the horizon, Captain Decatur made out the fine, familiar lines ofHMS Macedonian, a British frigate bearing 38 guns.[130]
Macedonian andUnited States had been berthed next to one another in 1810, in port at Norfolk, Virginia.Macedonian's captain,John Surman Carden, bet a furbeaver hat that if the two ever met in battle,Macedonian would emerge victorious.[131] However, the engagement in a heavy swell proved otherwise asUnited States pounded[106]Macedonian into a dismasted wreck from long range. During the engagement Decatur was standing on a box of shot when he was knocked down almost unconscious when a flying splinter struck him in the chest. Wounded, he soon recovered and was on his feet in command again.[132] Because of the greater range of the guns aboardUnited States, Decatur and his crew got off seventy broadsides, withMacedonian only getting off thirty, and consequently emerged from the battle relatively unscathed.[133]Macedonian had no option but surrender, and thus was taken as a prize by Decatur. Eager to present the nation with a prize, Decatur and his crew spent two weeks repairing and refitting their prize to prepare it for its journey across the Atlantic to the United States.[134]
After undergoing routine repairs at New York,United States was part of a small squadron that included the newly capturedUSS Macedonian (formerly HMSMacedonian) and thesloop of warHornet. On May 24, 1813, the squadron departed New York. On that same nightUnited States was struck by lightning which shattered its main mast. By June 1, Decatur's squadron encountered a powerful British squadron on patrol and under the command ofSir Thomas Masterman Hardy. Hardy's squadron, which emerged from behindMontauk Point, consisted of the ships of the lineHMS Ramillies andHMS Valiant along with the frigatesHMS Acasta andHMS Orpheus. Realizing his only chance for escape was to set a course forNew London, Decatur was forced to flee and take refuge at that port where they were blockaded until the end of the war.[135][136][137]
Decatur attempted to sneak out of New London harbor at night in an effort to elude the British blockading squadron. On the evening of December 18, while attempting to leave theThames River, Decatur saw blue lights burning near the mouth of the river in sight of theBritish blockaders. Decatur was furious, believing that various residents had set the signals to betray his plans. He abandoned the project and returned to New London. In a letter to the Navy Secretary, dated December 20, Decatur charged that traitors in the New London area were in collusion with the British to captureUnited States,Hornet andMacedonian. The allegations oftreason soon became public, causing controversy and debate among New London residents and others over the matter. A congressional investigation was called while Decatur made efforts to discover who was responsible but was unsuccessful. Whether the signals were given by a British spy or an American citizen remains uncertain.[137] Democratic-Republicans (the then-futureDemocratic Party) immediately blamed the Federalists who were adamantly against the war from the beginning, and so here earned themselves the name"Blue-light Federalists".[138]
Unable to get his squadron out of the harbor, Decatur decided to write a letter toCaptain Thomas Hardy offering to negotiate a resolution of the situation at a prearranged meeting. He proposed that matched ships from either side meet and, in effect, have a duel, to settle their otherwise idle situation. The letter was sent under aflag of truce but was in violation of orders, as after the loss ofChesapeake, Navy Secretary Jones forbade commanders from "giving or receiving a Challenge, to or from, an Enemy's vessel." The next day Hardy gave answer to Decatur's proposal and agreed to haveStatira engageMacedonian "as they are sister ships, carrying the same number of guns, and weight of metal." After further deliberation Decatur wanted assurance thatMacedonian would not be recaptured should the ship emerge victorious, as he suspected it would be. After several communications it was ascertained that neither side could trust the other and so the proposal floundered, never coming to fruition.[139]
In May 1814, Decatur transferred his commodore's pennant toPresident, a frigate with 44 guns.[140] By December 1, 1814, Secretary of the NavyWilliam Jones, a staunch proponent of coastal defense, appointed Decatur to lead a four-ship squadron comprisingPresident, which would be the flagship of his new squadron, along withHornet, asloop bearing 20 guns,USS Peacock bearing 22 andUSS Tom Bowline bearing 12 guns. In January 1815, Decatur's squadron was assigned a mission in theEast Indies. However, the British had established a strict blockade in the squadron's port of New York, therefore restricting any cruises.[141] On January 14, a severe snowstorm developed, forcing the British squadron away from the coast, but by the next day the storm had subsided, allowing the British fleet to take up positions to the northwest in anticipation of the American fleet trying to escape. The next dayPresident emerged from the west,[141] and Decatur attempted to break through the blockade alone inPresident and make for the appointed rendezvous atTristan da Cunha, but encountered the British West Indies Squadron composed ofrazeeHMS Majestic bearing 56 guns, under the command of CaptainJohn Hayes, along with the frigatesHMS Endymion, bearing 40 guns, commanded byCaptain Henry Hope,HMS Pomone, bearing 38 guns, commanded by CaptainJohn Richard Lumley, andHMS Tenedos, bearing 38 guns, commanded by CaptainHyde Parker.[142] Decatur had made arrangements for "pilot boats" to mark the way for clear passage out to sea, but due to a plotting error the pilot boats took up the wrong positions and consequentlyPresident was accidentally run aground.[143]
After an hour upon the sandbar, with Decatur's ship procuring damage to the copper and pintles, the ship finally broke free. Decatur continued the attempt to evade his pursuers and set course along the southerly coast ofLong Island.
AsEndymion was the fastest ship in the engagement, she was the only ship to catch up to and engagePresident. After a fierce fight lasting several hours, during which both ships were severely damaged (Endymion's headsails &President's hull), Decatur reluctantly surrendered toEndymion as there were four remaining British ships he would have to fight.[144] Decatur's command suffered 35 men killed and 70 wounded, including Decatur himself who was wounded by a large flying splinter.[143][145]
Endymion had sustained severe damage to the rigging, and her captain, Hope, decided to carry out repairs before tying upPresident. While this was happening Decatur made an attempt to escape.[144] Decatur's frigate was finally overtaken byPomone. Unaware that Decatur had surrendered, and then tried to flee,Pomone fired two broadsides intoPresident before they realized that the battle was over.[144] When boats fromPomone boardedPresident Decatur said "I surrender my sword to the captain of the black ship", a reference to Hope of HMSEndymion. After surrendering a second time, Decatur later claimed, "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."[144] SoonMajestic caught up with the British fleet. Decatur, now dressed in full dress uniform, boardedMajestic and surrendered his sword to Captain Hayes. Hayes in a gesture of admiration returned the sword to Decatur saying that he was "proud in returning the sword of an officer, who had defended his ship so nobly." Before taking possession ofPresident, Hayes allowed Decatur to return to his ship to perform burial services for the officers and seamen who had died in the engagement. He was also allowed to write a letter to his wife.[146] Decatur along with surviving crew were taken prisoner and held captive in aBermuda prison, arriving January 26, and were held there until February 1815. Upon arrival at the prison in Bermuda the British naval officers extended various courtesies and provisions that they felt were due to a man of Decatur's stature. The senior naval officer at the prison took the earliest opportunity to parole Decatur to New London, and on February 8, with news of the cessation of hostilities, Decatur traveled aboardHMS Narcissus (32), landing in New London on February 21.[147] On February 26, Decatur arrived in New York City, where he convalesced in a boarding house.
At war's end Decatur received a sword as a reward and thanks from Congress for his service in Tripoli and was also awarded theCongressional Gold Medal for distinguished service in the War of 1812.[148][149]
Now that war with Britain was over, the United States could concentrate on pressing matters in the Mediterranean, atAlgiers. As had occurred during theFirst Barbary War American merchant ships and crews were once again being seized and held for large ransoms. On February 23, 1815, President Madison urged Congress to declare war. Congress approved the act but did not declare war against Algiers.[150] Madison had chosenBenjamin Williams Crowninshield as the newSecretary of the Navy, replacingWilliam Jones.[151]
Two squadrons were then assembled, one at New York, under the command of Stephen Decatur, and one at Boston, under the command of CommodoreWilliam Bainbridge. Decatur's squadron of ten ships was ready first and set sail for Algiers on May 20. At this time it was the largest US fleet ever assembled. Decatur was in command of the flagshipUSS Guerriere.[g] Aboard was William Shaler who had just been appointed by Madison as the consul-general for the Barbary States, acting as joint commissioner with Commodores Decatur and Bainbridge.[153] Shaler was in possession of a letter authorizing them to negotiate terms of peace with the Algerian government. Because of Decatur's great successes in the War of 1812 and for his knowledge of and past experience at the Algerian port, Crowninshield chose him to command the lead ship in the naval squadron to Algiers.[152][154]
The US was demanding the release of Americans held captive as slaves, an end of annual payments of tribute, and finally to procure favorable prize agreements.[155] Decatur was prepared to negotiate peace or resort to military measures. Eager to know the Bey's decision, Decatur dispatched the president's letter which ultimately prompted the Bey to abandon his practice of piracy and kidnapping and come to terms with the United States.[156]
On May 20, 1815, Commodore Decatur received instructions from PresidentJames Madison to take command of the frigateUSS Guerriere and lead a squadron of ten ships to the Mediterranean Sea to conduct theSecond Barbary War, which would put an end to the international practice of paying tribute to the Barbary pirate states. His squadron arrived atGibraltar on June 14.[157]
Before committing himself to the Mediterranean, Decatur learned from the American consuls atCadiz andTangier of any squadrons passing by along the Atlantic coast or through theStrait of Gibraltar. To avoid making known the presence of an American squadron, Decatur did not enter the ports but instead dispatched a messenger in a small boat to communicate with the consuls.[158] He learned from observers there that a squadron under the command of the notoriousRais Hamidou had passed by into the Mediterranean, most likely offCape Gata. Decatur's squadron arrived at Gibraltar on June 15, 1815. This attracted much attention and prompted the departure of several dispatch vessels to warn Rais of the squadron's arrival. Decatur's visit was brief with the consul and lasted only for as long as it took to communicate with a short letter to the Secretary of the Navy informing him of earlier weather problems and that he was about to "proceed in search of the enemy forthwith", where he at once set off in search of Hamidou hoping to take him by surprise.[159][160]
On June 17, while sailing inGuerriere for Algiers, Decatur's fleet encountered nearCape Palos the frigateMashouda, commanded by Hamidou and the Algerian brigEstedio, which were also en route to Algeria. After overtaking theMashouda, Decatur fired two broadsides, crippling the ship, killing 30 of the crew, including Hamidou himself, and taking more than 400 prisoners.[157]Lloyd's List reported that the Algerine frigateMezoura, which had been under the command of the Algerine admiral, had arrived atCarthagena on June 20 as a prize to Decatur's squadron. The newspaper also reported that Decatur's squadron had run another Spanish frigate onshore near Carthagena.[161]
Capturing theflagship of the Algerian fleet at theBattle off Cape Gata Decatur was able to secure sufficient levying power to bargain with theDey of Algiers. Upon arrival, Decatur exhibited an early use ofgunboat diplomacy on behalf of American interests as a reminder that this was the only alternative if the Dey decided to decline signing a treaty. Consequently, a new treaty was agreed upon within 48 hours of Decatur's arrival, confirming the success of his objectives.[162]
After bringing the government in Algiers to terms, Decatur's squadron set sail toTunis andTripoli to demand reimbursement for proceeds withheld by those governments during the War of 1812. With a similar show of force exhibited at Algiers, Decatur achieved concessions to all of his demands and promptly sailed home victorious. Upon his arrival Decatur boasted to the Secretary of the Navy that the settlement had "been dictated at the mouths of our cannon."[163][164] For this campaign, he became known as "the Conqueror of theBarbary Pirates".[165]
After his victory in the Mediterranean, Decatur returned to the United States, arriving at New York on November 12, 1815, with the brigEnterprise, along with Bainbridge ofGuerriere who arrived three days later. He was met with a wide reception from dignitaries and countrymen.[166] Among the more notable salutations was a letter Decatur received from the Secretary of StateJames Monroe that related the following tidings of appreciation: "I take much interest in informing you that the result of this expedition, so glorious to your country and honorable to yourself and the officers and men under your command, has been very satisfactory to the President."[167]
The Secretary of the Navy,Benjamin Williams Crowninshield, was equally gracious and thankful. Since a vacancy was about to occur in the board of Navy commissioners with the retirement of CommodoreIsaac Hull, the Secretary was most anxious to offer the position to Decatur, which he gladly accepted. Upon his appointment Decatur made his journey to Washington, where he was again received with cordial receptions from various dignitaries and countrymen. He served on theBoard of Navy Commissioners from 1816 to 1820. One of his more notable decisions as a commissioner involved his strong objection to the reinstatement of Barron upon his return to the United States after being barred from command for five years forhis questionable handling of theChesapeake, an action that would soon lead to Barron challenging him to a duel.[168][169]
During his tenure as a Commissioner, Decatur also became active in the Washington social scene. At a social gathering in April 1816, 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, and always successful, right or wrong.[170][h]
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Now that Decatur was Naval Commissioner he had settled into a routine life in Washington working at theNavy Department during the day, with many evenings spent as an honorary guest at social gatherings, as both he and his wife were the toast of Washington society.[105] Decatur's first home in Washington was 1903 Pennsylvania Avenue (one of the "Seven Buildings"), purchased in 1817.[171] In 1818, Decatur built a three-story red brick house in Washington onLafayette Square, designed by the famous English architectBenjamin Henry Latrobe, the same man who designed theU.S. Capitol building andSaint John's Church.[172] Decatur specified that his house had to be suitable for "impressive entertainments". The house was the first private residence to be built near theWhite House.Decatur House is now a museum that exhibits a large collection of Decatur memorabilia and is managed by theNational Trust for Historic Preservation. Located on President's Square (Lafayette Square), it was built in grand style to accommodate large social gatherings, which in the wake of Decatur's many naval victories were an almost routine affair in the lives of Decatur and his wife.[105]
In October 1818, at the request ofOliver Hazard Perry, a very close friend, Decatur arrived at New York to act as his second in aduel between Perry and Captain John Heath, commander of Marines onUSS Java. The two officers were involved in a personal disagreement while aboard that ship, that resulted in Heath challenging Perry to a duel. Perry had written to Decatur nearly a year previously, revealing that he had no intention of firing any shot at Heath. After the two duelists and their seconds assembled the duel took place. One shot was fired; Heath missed his opponent while Perry, keeping his word, returned no fire. At this point Decatur approached Heath with Perry's letter in hand, relating to Heath that Perry all along had no intention of returning fire and asking Heath if his honor had thus been satisfied. Heath admitted that it had. Decatur was relieved to finally see the matter resolved with no loss of life or limb to either of his friends, urging both to now put the matter behind them.[173][174][175]
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Decatur's life and distinguished service in the U.S. Navy came to an early end when in 1820 Barron challenged Decatur to a duel, related in part to comments Decatur had made over Barron's conduct in theChesapeake–Leopard affair of 1807. Because of Barron's loss ofChesapeake to the British he faced a court-martial and was barred from command for a term of five years. Decatur had served on the court-martial that had found Barron guilty of "unpreparedness". Barron had just returned to the United States fromCopenhagen after being away for six years and was seeking reinstatement.[176] He was met with much criticism among fellow naval officers, among whom Decatur was one of the most outspoken. Decatur, who was now on the board of naval commissioners, strongly opposed Barron's reinstatement and was notably critical about the prospect in communications with other naval officers and government officials. As a result, Barron became embittered towards Decatur and challenged him to a duel.[114][177] Barron's challenge to Decatur occurred during a period when duels between officers were so common that it was creating a shortage of experienced men, forcing theDepartment of the Navy to threaten to discharge those who attempted to pursue the practice.[178]
Barron'ssecond was CaptainJesse Elliott, known for his jaunty mannerisms and antagonism toward Decatur. Decatur first asked his friendThomas Macdonough to be his second, but Macdonough declined the request because he had always opposed dueling.[179] Decatur then turned to his supposed friend CommodoreWilliam Bainbridge to act as his second, to which Bainbridge consented. However, according to naval historianAlexander Slidell Mackenzie, Decatur made a poor choice: Bainbridge, who was five years his senior, had long been jealous of the younger and more famous Decatur.[180]
The seconds met on March 8 to establish the time and place for the duel and the rules to be followed. The arrangements were exact. The duel was to take place at nine o'clock in the morning on March 22, atBladensburg Dueling Grounds, near Washington, at a distance of only eight paces. Decatur, an expert pistol shot, planned only to wound Barron in the hip.[181]
Decatur did not tell his wife, Susan, about the forthcoming duel but instead wrote to her father asking that he come to Washington to stay with her, using language that suggested that he was facing a duel and that he might lose his life.[182] On the morning of the 22nd the dueling party assembled. The conference between the two seconds lasted three-quarters of an hour.[183] Just before the duel, Barron spoke to Decatur of conciliation; however, the men's seconds did not attempt to halt the proceedings.[184]
The duel was arranged by Bainbridge with Elliott in a way that made the wounding or death of both duelists very likely. The shooters would be standing close to each other, face to face; there would be no back-to-back pacing away and turning to fire, a procedure that often resulted in the missing of one's opponent. Upon taking their places the duelists 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, while taking aim, stood in silence. Bainbridge called out, 'One' and Decatur and Barron both fired 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 (who ultimately survived) declared that the duel was carried out properly and honorably and told Decatur that he forgave him from the bottom of his heart.[185][186]
By then other men who had known about the duel were arriving at the scene, including Decatur's friend and mentor, the senior officerJohn Rodgers. In excruciating pain, Decatur was carefully lifted by the surgeons and placed in Rodgers' carriage and was carried back to his home on Lafayette Square. Before they departed, Decatur called out to Barron that he should also be taken along, but Rodgers and the surgeons calmly shook their heads in disapproval. Barron cried back "God bless you, Decatur" – and with a weak voice Decatur called back "Farewell, farewell, Barron." Upon arrival at his home, Decatur was taken into the front room just left of the front entrance, still conscious. Before allowing himself to be carried in, he insisted that his wife and nieces be taken upstairs, sparing them the sight of his grave condition.[187] A Dr. Thomas Simms arrived from his home nearby to give his assistance to the naval physicians. However, for reasons not entirely clear to historians, Decatur refused to have the ball extracted from his wound.[i] At this point Decatur requested that his will be brought forward so as to receive his signature, granting his wife all his worldly possessions, with directives as to who would be the executors of his will.[188] Decatur died at approximately 10:30 pm that night. While wounded, he is said to have cried out, "I did not know that any man could suffer such pain!"[189]
Washington society and the nation were shocked upon learning that Decatur had been killed at the age of forty-one in a duel with a rival navy captain. Decatur's funeral was attended by Washington's elite, including PresidentJames Monroe and the justices of the Supreme Court, as well as most of Congress. Over 10,000 citizens of Washington and the surrounding area attended to pay their last respects to a national hero. The pallbearers were Commodores Rodgers,Chauncey,Tingey,Porter and Macdonough; captains Ballard and Cassin; and Lieutenant Macpherson.[190] Following were naval officers and seamen. At the funeral service a grieving seaman unexpectedly came forward and proclaimed, "He was the friend of the flag, the sailor's friend; the navy has lost its mainmast."[191] Stephen Decatur died childless. Though he left his widow $75,000 (equal to $1,687,321 today), a fortune at the time, she died virtually penniless in 1860.[192][193] She received anannuity of $630/year (equal to $19,843 today) from her $7,000 donation toGeorgetown College (part ofGeorgetown University) in 1834 and later a $50/month pension from Congress.[194][195]
Decatur's body was interred in theBarlow family vault atKalorama in accordance with Susan's request. It was later moved to Philadelphia, where he was buried atSt. Peter's Churchyard in 1846, alongside his mother and father.[196][197]
After the funeral, rumors circulated of a last-minute conversation between the duelists that could have avoided the deadly outcome of the duel and, moreover, that the seconds involved might have been planning for such an outcome and accordingly made no real attempts to stop the duel. Decatur's widow, Susan, held an even more damning view of the matter and spent much of her remaining life pursuing justice for what she termed "the assassins" involved.[198] Susan Decatur also tried for several years to obtain a pension from the U.S. Government. By an act of Congress on March 3, 1837, she was granted a pension retroactive to Decatur's death.[199]
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Although he died at a relatively young age, Decatur helped determine the direction of the young nation playing a significant role establishing its identity.[200] For his heroism in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, Decatur emerged as an icon of American naval history and was roundly admired by most of his contemporaries as well as the citizenry:
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