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James Lawrence
October 1, 1781(1781-10-01) – June 4, 1813 (aged 31)

Captain James Lawrence, USN
Place of birth Burlington, New Jersey
Allegiance Flag of the United States United States
Service/branch Navy
Years of service 1798—1813
Rank Captain
Battles/wars War of 1812

James Lawrence (October 1, 1781 – June 4, 1813) was an American naval officer. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1781 ( MDCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common See also Burlington Township New Jersey Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1781 ( MDCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The United States of America —commonly referred to as the During the War of 1812, he commanded the USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against the HMS Shannon (commanded by Philip Broke). The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies Early service She was launched 2 December 1799 by Gosport Navy Yard, where Josiah Fox had served as her Master Constructor and commissioned This is a list of notable single-ship actions, naval bombardments and other naval events Single-ship actions 1618 about May - Maltese Career Construction and commissioning Shannon was built by Brindley at Frindsbury in Kent, and was launched on 5 May Rear Admiral Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke 1st Baronet KCB ( 9 September 1776 &ndash 2 January 1841) was a distinguished He is probably best known today for his dying command "Don't give up the ship!", which is still a popular naval battle cry. For other uses see Battle cry (disambiguation A battle cry is a yell or chant taken up in Battle, usually by members of the same

Contents

Biography

Lawrence was born in Burlington, New Jersey but raised in Woodbury, New Jersey, the son of John and Martha (Tallman) Lawrence. See also Burlington Township New Jersey Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United Woodbury is a City in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. His mother died when he was an infant and his Loyalist father fled to Canada during the American Revolution, leaving his half-sister to care for him. In general a loyalist is one who maintains loyalty to an established government political party or sovereign especially during war or revolutionary change Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" Though he studied law, he entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1798. For the fish called midshipman see Midshipman fish. The rank of midshipman is one of the oldest ranks still in existence

During the Quasi-War with France, he served in the ship USS Ganges and frigate USS Adams in the Caribbean. The Quasi-War was an Undeclared war fought entirely at sea between the United States and France from 1798 to 1800 This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship Commissioning She was laid down in 1797 at New York City by John Jackson and William Sheffield and launched on 8 June 1799 The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting He was commissioned a lieutenant on April 6, 1802 and served aboard USS Enterprise in the Mediterranean, taking part in a successful attack on enemy craft on 2 June 1803. Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the First Caribbean tour On 17 December 1799 Enterprise departed the Delaware Capes for the Caribbean to protect United States merchantmen from the depredations Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks 1803 ( MDCCCIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a

In February 1804, he was second in command during the expedition to destroy the captured frigate USS Philadelphia. See also See USS ''Philadelphia'' for other Navy ships of the same name Later in the conflict he commanded Enterprise and a gunboat in battles with the Tripolitans. Tripolitaniajpg|thumb|250px|Tripolitania]] Tripolitania or Tripolitana ( Arabic: طرابلس, Transliterated: Tarābulus) is a historic He was also First Lieutenant of the frigate Adams and, in 1805, commanded the small Gunboat Number 6 during a voyage across the Atlantic to Italy. First Lieutenant is a Military rank. The rank of Lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations (see Comparative military ranks

Subsequently, Lieutenant Lawrence commanded the warships USS Vixen, USS Wasp and USS Argus. Service life First Barbary War Designed especially for operations in the shoal waters off the coast of Tripoli, Vixen joined Commodore Edward Service history Wasp's movements in 1807 and 1808 remain unrecorded but by 1809 she was cruising the eastern seaboard of the United States USS Argus may refer to one of these United States Navy ships, a brig during the War of 1812 In 1810, he also took part in trials of an experimental spar torpedo. A spar torpedo is a Weapon consisting of a Bomb placed at the end of a long pole or spar and attached to a Boat. Promoted to the rank of Master Commandant in November 1810, he took command of the sloop of war USS Hornet a year later and sailed her to Europe on a diplomatic mission. Master commandant was a rank within the early United States Navy. In the 18th and the earlier part of the 19th centuries a sloop-of-war was a small sailing Warship (also known as one of the Escort types with a single gun deck From the beginning of the War of 1812, Lawrence and Hornet cruised actively, capturing the privateer Dolphin in July 1812. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies A privateer was a private Warship authorized by a country's Government by Letters of marque to attack foreign shipping Later in the year Hornet blockaded the British sloop HMS Bonne Citoyenne at Bahia, Brazil, and on 24 February 1813 captured HMS Peacock. Bahia (baˈia is one of the 26 States of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common HMS Peacock has been the name of several Royal Navy vessels Two different British sloops of war active during the War of 1812

USS Chesapeake by F. Muller. US Navy Art Collection
USS Chesapeake by F. Early service She was launched 2 December 1799 by Gosport Navy Yard, where Josiah Fox had served as her Master Constructor and commissioned Muller. US Navy Art Collection

Upon his return to the United States in March, Lawrence learned of his promotion to Captain. Two months later he took command of the frigate USS Chesapeake, then preparing for sea at Boston, Massachusetts. Early service She was launched 2 December 1799 by Gosport Navy Yard, where Josiah Fox had served as her Master Constructor and commissioned He left port on 1 June 1813 and immediately engaged the blockading Royal Navy frigate HMS Shannon in a fierce battle. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A blockade is any effort to prevent supplies Troops information or aid from reaching an opposing force The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Career Construction and commissioning Shannon was built by Brindley at Frindsbury in Kent, and was launched on 5 May Although slightly smaller, accurate gunfire from the British ship disabled Chesapeake within the first few minutes. Captain Lawrence, mortally wounded by small arms fire, ordered his officers to "Don't give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks. "[1] as he was carried below. However, his crew was overwhelmed by a British boarding party shortly afterwards. James Lawrence died of his wounds on 4 June 1813, while Chesapeake was being taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, by her captors. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The City of Halifax (est 1841 is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County

Battle flag used by Oliver Hazard Perry.
Battle flag used by Oliver Hazard Perry. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (August 20 1785 &ndash August 23 1819 was an officer in the United States Navy.

He was buried with military honors in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but reinterred at Trinity Church in New York City. Trinity Church, at 79 Broadway in New York City, is a historic full service Parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The City of New York He left behind a wife and daughter.

His death would be reported to his friend and fellow officer Oliver Hazard Perry, who would order a large blue battle ensign stitched with the phrase "DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP" [sic] in bold white letters. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (August 20 1785 &ndash August 23 1819 was an officer in the United States Navy. The Perry Flag would fly from his flagship during his victorious engagement against the British on Lake Erie in September, 1813.

Legacy

Lawrence's last words are memorialized on the Aegis class cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70)
Lawrence's last words are memorialized on the Aegis class cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70)

Many places are named for Captain Lawrence, including:

His birthplace of Burlington, New Jersey, has a Captain James Lawrence Elementary School[2]. See also Burlington Township New Jersey Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United

In addition, the U. S. Navy has named five ships USS Lawrence. Five United States Navy ships have borne the name USS Lawrence in honor of James Lawrence.

Relatives of Captain James Lawrence live in Massachusetts currently, and a few of his descendents now reside in New Jersey, Kentucky, South Carolina, California and Atlanta.

Notes

  1. ^ Crocker III, H. W. (2006). Don't Tread on Me. New York: Crown Forum, 98. ISBN 9781400053636.  
  2. ^ The City of Burlington School District. URL accessed 5 January 2005; verified 12 September 2006.

David Lawrence, Professor James Barnes Lawrence and Harriette Hayes Lawrence are descendants of Captain James Lawrence. David, James Barnes, and Harriette Hayes are the children of Adelbert Lionel Lawrence and Frances Hayes. The Lawrence family moved to Cummington, MA in the late 1960s. ~

References

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