"Commodore
Oliver Hazard Perry"
Born 3 August 1785 in Rocky Point, South Kingston, R.I., 20
August 1785, was appointed Midshipman
7 April 1799 and served in revenue cutter General Green during
the Naval War with France. he fought in frigates Adams and Constellation
during the Barbary Wars. In the War of 1812, Perry constructed
and commanded a fleet of American warships on Lake Erie. When
his flagship Lawrence was shattered and sinking in the Battle
of Lake Erie, Perry fired her last effective gun, took his battle
flag, and rowed across shot-splashed waters to Niagara where
he fought on to victory, and reported,
"We have met the enemy and they are ours" The victory
gave the United States control of Lake Erie and enabled Perry
and General Harrison to take a large part of Canadian territory
which helped American Commissioners at Ghent to negotiate a treaty
favorable to the United States. hence peace was restored, Perry
commanded frigate Java in the Mediterranean. in May 1819 he went
to Venezuela to seek help in protecting American ships off the
northern coast of South America, waters then plagued by pirates.
After sailing to the Spanish Main in John Adams, he ascended
the Orinoco River in Nonsuch. At Angostura, Perry succeeded in
negotiating a favorable treaty, but contracted fever and died
23 August 1819.
From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Commodore Perry
In 1799, at age 14, Oliver Hazard Perry entered the Navy as
a midshipman. Following distinguished service in the Quasi-War
with France and the Barbary Wars, at age 27, he was given command
of U.S. Naval forces on Lake Erie in
the War of 1812. There he won a decisive victory over the British
on September 10, 1813 which gave control of the lakes to the
United States. At the young age of 34, Commodore Oliver Hazard
Perry died of yellow fever aboard John Adams during a
Naval expedition to Venezuela. He is at rest in Newport's Island
cemetary. August 23, 1785 August 23, 1819.
Matthew Calbraith Perry, his brother, was born in Newport,
R.I., on April 10, 1794, and became a midshipman in the Navy
in 1809. Perry commanded the Gulf Squadron during the latter
stages of the Mexican War and in 1853-54, while commanding the
East India Squadron, negotiated the historic treaty which opened
trade between Japan and America. He died March 4, 1858 in New
York City and is at rest in Newport's Island cemetary. April
10, 1794 - March 4, 1858
SwStr: t. 512 l. 143' b. 33' dr. 10' s. 7 k. cpl.
125 a. 2 x 9", 2 x 32-pdr. sb , 1 x 12.pdr. how.
Commodore Perry , an armed side wheel ferry, was built
in 1859 by Stack and Joyce, Williamsburg, N.Y.; purchased by
the Navy 2 October 1861; and commissioned later in the month,
Acting Master F. J. Thomas in command.
Commodore Perry sailed from Hampton Roads, Va., 17
January 1862 to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron,
and on 7 and 8 February took part in the attack, in cooperation
with the Army, which resulted in the surrender of Roanoke Island,
part of the long campaign through which the Navy secured key
coastal points. Commodore Perry took part in the capture
of Elizabeth City on 10 February, and the next day captured the
schooner Lynnhaven. As operations along the North Carolina
coast continued, she joined in the capture of New Bern and Washington
in March, and in April took singly or in concert with others
of her squadron four schooners and a sloop in the Pasquotank
River and Newtogen Creek.
On 3 October 1862, Commodore Perry joined in an Army-Navy
expedition against Franklin, Va., and on 10 December, joined
an attack against Plymouth, N.C. After another combined expedition
against Hertford, N.C., on 30 January 1863, Commodore Perry
patrolled constantly in Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and
the streams which enter them, frequently exchanging fire with
small detachments of Confederates ashore. Repaired at Norfolk
and Baltimore late in 1863, she returned to her squadron in March
1864 for duty in the inland and coastal waters of Virginia on
picket, guard, and patrol duty, joining in many amphibious expeditions,
until the close of the war. She sailed from Norfolk for New York
12 June 1865, and there was decommissioned 26 June and sold 12
July 1865. |