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Early life
Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Elliott enlisted in the US Navy as a midshipman in April 1804. Serving on board the USS Essex under Commodore James Barron, Elliott would see action in the Mediterranean Sea during the Barbary Wars between 1805 and 1807. In June 1807, Elliott was on board the USS Chesapeake (1799) when Commodore Barron was forced to allow a search of the ship by HMS Leopard.
War of 1812
Winning promotion to Lieutenant in April 1810, Elliot was assigned to Lake Erie to oversee construction of the US naval fleet upon the outbreak of the War of 1812. On October 8, he and Capt. Nathan Towson captured the English brigs HMS Caledonia and HMS Detroit defending Fort Erie and were later commended for this action by Congress. In February 1813, however, while beginning construction on the USS Lawrence and USS Niagara, Elliot was replaced by Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry.
Transferred to Lake Ontario, Elliot served under Commodore Isaac Chauncey as Captain on board the flagship the USS Madison. Promoted to Master Commandant in July, Elliot took part in the Battle of York (Toronto) on July 21. Reassigned to the Erie fleet the following month, Elliot served as Commodore Perry's second-in-command on board the USS Niagara. He felt Perry had insufficient combat experience, however, and was particularly critical of Perry's choice of Presque Isle for his shipyard.
Lake Erie
During the Battle of Lake Erie against a British squadron under Captain Robert Barclay on September 10, Elliott commanded the brig Niagara. Perry commanded the Niagara's sister-ship, Lawrence. In the centre of the American line of battle, the Niagara was astern of the Caledonia which in turn was astern of the Lawrence. During the early stages of the battle, the Lawrence fought alone against several of the heaviest British ships while the Niagara was scarcely engaged. After the Lawrence was battered into a wreck, Perry took command of the Niagara while Elliot was despatched by boat to urge the smaller American gunboats at the rear of the line of battle into closer action. The battle ended with the surrender of the entire British squadron.
Elliot won distinction for his actions and official praise from Perry, and was given command of the Erie fleet the next month, a post he would hold until the war's end in 1815. There was nevertheless controversy over his actions during the battle. Some (including Perry) suspected that he had deliberately held Niagara out of the battle in the beginning, and they would feud over this point to the end of their lives.
Later career
Commander of the sloop USS Ontario during the Second Barbary War, Elliot would be promoted to Captain in 1818, serving on a naval commission selecting sites for navy yards, lighthouses, and other coastal fortifications until 1822. In 1820, Elliott served as second to Commodore James Barron when the latter fatally shot Stephen Decatur in a duel. Transferred to the Brazil Squadron in 1825, Elliot served as captain of the USS Cyane for two years, and later commanded the West Indies Squadron from 1829 to 1832.
He was appointed commander of the Boston Navy Yard in 1833 and of the Mediterranean Squadron in 1835. During the Mediterranean assignment, he was charged with minor offenses by several of his junior officers, and was recalled to the United States in 1838. Politically unpopular at the time (possibly stemming back to his performance during the Battle of Lake Erie and subsequent feud with Perry), Elliot was convicted of these charges and suspended from duty for four years until the remaining charges were dismissed by President John Tyler in October 1843. Appointed commander of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in December 1844, Elliot would remain there until his death on December 10, 1845.
See also
References
- McHenry, Robert. Webster's American Military Biographies, Springfield, Mass.: G & C. Merriam Co., 1978.
- Jesse D. Elliot, Address of Com. Jesse D. Elliot, U.S.N., Delivered in Washington County, Maryland, to His Early Companions at Their Request, on November 24, 1843 (Philadelphia: G.B. Zeiber & co., 1844).
External links
- War of 1812 - People & Stories: Jesse Elliot
- Jesse Duncan Elliott, Trustee 1831-1834
- Elliott, Jesse Duncan - The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05.
- Jesse D. Elliot, Address of Com. Jesse D. Elliot, U.S.N., Delivered in Washington County, Maryland, to His Early Companions at Their Request, on November 24, 1843 (Philadelphia: G.B. Zeiber & co., 1844).
