Stephen Decatur was the brightest star in the U.S. Navy when he died. Decatur’s father had been a commodore in the Continental Navy during the American Revolution. Stephen was raised to be a sailor. He became an ensign at age 19. His great leadership abilities resulted in a rapid Read more…
Stephen Decatur was the most lauded American sailor since John Paul Jones. In 1798, he entered the US Navy as a midshipman on the USS Constitution. In a year, the had risen to Lieutenant. In 1804, he was in the Mediterranean as part of a fleet that was at Read more…
One of the most daring exploits in the history of the U.S. Navy occurred on Feb. 16, 1804. In 1801, the U.S. began the First Barbary War against the pirate (called “corsairs”) states of the Barbary coast of the Mediterranean. The new nation had been paying tribute (bribes) to Read more…