Stephen Decatur: A Life Most Bold and Daring (review)

Abstract

Stephen Decatur: A Life Most Bold and Daring. By Spencer Tucker. (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2005. Pp. xx, 245. Cloth, $32.95.)Stephen Decatur, Jr. (1779-1820) entered the newly established U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1799, saw active service in the Quasi War with France, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1800. Later, in operations against Tripoli, he demonstrated great leadership ability. His men responded to the respectful treatment they received and were willing to die for him. When the frigate Philadelphia was captured and its crew imprisoned by the Tripolitanians, Decatur led a small band of volunteers who seized the ship and burned it to prevent its use against the Americans. The volunteers suffered no fatalities. For this action Decatur was promoted to captain. At the age of twenty-five, he was the youngest person ever to hold that rank in the history of the U.S. Navy. In 1806 he married Susan Wheeler of Norfolk and had a happy married life but there were no children.As the captain of the United States during the War of 1812 Decatur captured one of the best frigates in the Royal Navy after a battle. For this he was honored by Congress, the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and New York City. He also received $30,000 in prize money, the largest award to any captain in the war. When there was a concern that the British might capture New York City, Decatur worked with Robert Fulton to improve the defenses of the city and in the development of a submarine in an effort to break the British blockade of East Coast ports. In the frigate United States he eluded the blockaders but was later bottled up by them in New London, Connecticut. Near the end of the war he was again at sea in the frigate President and lost a battle with HMS Endymion. A subsequent court of inquiry vindicated his conduct.In 1815 he was given the command of a squadron and sent to the Mediterranean to deal with attacks on American commerce by Algiers. En route to his assignment, Decatur captured two Algerian warships. With the assistance of the local Swedish consul, who acted as an intermediary, and William Shaler, one of the U.S. appointed peace commissioners, Algiers was forced to accept a new treaty, pay reparations, end all tribute, and release all American captives. Tunis and Tripoli had also violated their treaties with the United States. They were forced to pay compensation and in the case of Tripoli to release ten Christian slaves. Decatur's actions ended interference with American commerce by the Barbary powers. …