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 rise. In 1804, he was given command of the daring mission to deprive the Barbary pirates of the captured USS Philadelphia. Decatur sailed into Tripoli harbor at night and boarded the ship. He and his men set the ship afire and then escaped. One year later, at age 25, he became the youngest captain in the history of the Navy. During the War of 1812, he commanded the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”). He served on the court-martial board for John Barron after the infamous Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. Decatur and the other judges found that Barron had lost the encounter because he challenged the Leopard even though he was unprepared. Decatur was particularly vocal in his criticism of Barron. Barron was suspended from service for five years. Decatur went on to win one of the series of victories of American frigates during the war. After, he won the Second Barbary War almost by himself. He returned to America and sealed his place in history with the famous quote: “Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!” Unfortunately, his luck ran out in 1820. When Barron applied for reinstatement, Decatur opposed it. Barron challenged him to a duel, which was not uncommon in the Navy. On March 22, 1820, the two met in a field outside Bladensburg, Maryland. The two seconds did nothing to prevent the duel. Decatur’s second was William Bainbridge, a captain who had commanded the young Decatur and seemingly was his mentor. But apparently, Bainbridge had developed a resentment of his protégé eclipsing him. The two duelists were placed just eight paces apart. They did not step it off. The command was “Present, 1, 2, 3”. The rule was to fire before 3. The men fired simultaneously and both hit. Decatur was hit in the pelvic area and several arteries were severed. He gasped “oh Lord, I am a dead man”. He was carried back to his home, where he died. He was 41. Barron, although seriously wounded, survived. Decatur’s funeral was huge and was attended by Pres. Madison, several Supreme Court justices, and most of Congress.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Decatur
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/naval-hero-killed-in-duel
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