Along the around the globe voyage, the USS Potomac became the first U.S. Navy ship to host sitting royalty, when the king and queesn of Hawaii came aboard.
When Downes arrived in Valparasio Chile, Jeremiah N. Reynolds came aboard. He was an American explorer and author and served as Downes' personal secretary for the trip and wrote a book about his experience, "The Voyage of the United States Frigate Potomac."
Downes' sea service ended with this cruise.
On returning home, Downes was severely criticized for his actions in Sumatra, but President Jackson defended his actions, saying that what he did there would deter future aggression by the Malays. However, that didn't come to pass because in August 1838, another American merchant ship, the Eclipse, was attacked. The United States responded with what is called the Second Sumatran Expedition.
From 1837 to 1842, and again from1850-1852, he commanded the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston Harbor. He died there on August 11, 1854.
--Brock-Perry
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