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Contact Info
Home Town Hampton
Last Address Norfolk, VA
BURIAL- Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery Portsmouth, Portsmouth City, Virginia
James Barron was an officer in the United States Navy. He served in the Quasi-War and the Barbary Wars, during which he commanded a number of famous ships, including USS Essex and USS President. As commander of the frigateUSS Chesapeake, he was involved in the Chesapeake–Leopard affair in 1807 which led to the surrender of his ship to the British and resulted in him being court-martialed for his actions during incident.
After criticism from some fellow officers, the resulting controversy led Barron to a duel with Stephen Decatur, one of the officers who presided over his court-martial. Suspended from command, he pursued commercial interests in Europe during the War of 1812. Barron finished his naval career on shore duty, becoming the Navy's senior officer in 1839.
Other Comments:
Killed Commodore Stephen Decatur in a duel on March 22, 1820.
In 1820, Commodore James Barron challenged Decatur to a duel, relating in part to comments Decatur had made over what he considered Barron's poor conduct in the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair of 1807. Decatur had served as one of the members of the Court Martial that had found Barron guilty of unpreparedness in the affair, and had barred him from a command for the next five years.
Barron's second was Captain Jesse Elliott, known for his antagonism to Decatur. Decatur asked his supposed friend Commodore William Bainbridge to be his second, to which Bainbridge consented. However, Decatur unknowingly had selected a man who had harbored a long-standing jealousy of Decatur.
The two officers fought at Bladensburg Duelling Field in Bladensburg, Maryland (now in Colmar Manor, Maryland), on 22 March 1820. Before the duel, Barron spoke to Decatur in words of suggestive conciliation, but the seconds did nothing to halt the altercation. Decatur, an expert marksman with a pistol, intended only to wound Barron. However, Decatur was mortally wounded by a shot in the abdomen. (Decatur had likewise inflicted a severe, though not mortal, wound to Barron's hip.)
Frigate:
One of six frigates authorized by Congress, 27 March 1794
Designed by Joshua Humphreys and CAPT. Thomas Truxtun, built at Philadelphia Navy Yard
Launched, 10 May 1797
Commissioned, USF United States, 11 July 1797, at Philadelphia, CAPT. John Barry in command
Fitted out at Philadelphia in the spring of 1798 and ordered to sea, 3 July 1798
Proceeded to Boston and then to the Caribbean, at Barbados
Captured French privateer Sans Pareil, 22 August 1798
Took her second prize, French privateer Jalouse, 4 September 1798
During her second voyage to the West Indies USS United States
Sunk French privateer schooner L'Amour de la Patrie, 18 December 1798
Captured French privateer schooner La Tartueffe and her prize American sloop Vermont, 26 March 1799
USS United States sailed for France, 3 November 1799 with commissioners appointed by the President to negotiate a settlement
Returned to New York, April 1800 and laid up for repairs
Decommissioned, 6 June 1801, at Washington Navy Yard
Recommissioned and refitted at Norfolk in 1810
During the War of 1812, USS United States encountered and defeated HMS Macedonian, 25 October 1812, south of the Azores
Following the Barbary Pirate Wars USS United States was assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron from 1812 to 1819
Decommissioned, 9 June 1819, at Hampton Roads
Recommissioned and assigned to the Pacific Squadron from 1824 to 1827
After repairs at Philadelphia from 1827 to 1830 USS United States was placed in ordinary at New York Navy Yard in 1830
Modernized in 1832 for service in the Mediterranean Squadron from 1833 to 1838
Redeployed to the Home Squadron from 1839 to 1840
Repaired at Norfolk in 1841, assigned as flagship of the Pacific Squadron in January 1842
Decommissioned, at Boston, 14 October 1844
Recommissioned, 18 May 1846, assigned to the African Squadron
Joined the Mediterranean Squadron in 1847
Decommissioned, at Norfolk, 24 February 1849, placed in ordinary
Set on fire to prevent Confederate forces from capturing the hulk, at Norfolk Navy Yard, 20 April 1861
Pumped out and recommissioned at the Confederate frigate CSS United States for service as a receiving ship
Sunk in the Elizabeth River at Portsmouth, VA. to obstruct the passage of Union vessels in May 1862
Raised by Union forces and towed to Norfolk Navy Yard in May 1862
Final Disposition, ordered broken up by the Bureau of Construction and Repair, 18 December 1865