George Campbell Read, USN-- Part 2: A Varied and Long Navy Career

He was promoted to commander in 1816 and then served in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Africa.  In 1825, he was promoted again, this time to captain and commanded the USS Constitution in 1826

In 1838-1839, he took part in the retaliatory action against pirates and raiders who preyed upon American shipping in India.  From 1836 to 1846 he commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard.  He also contributed to the establishment of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Then from 1846 to 1849, he commanded the African Squadron.  When the Civil War broke out, in 1861, he was in charge of the Philadelphia Naval Asylum.

His final promotion came in July 1862, to the rank of rear admiral.   He died a month later.

A Long and Varied Career.  --Brock-Perry

HMS Cornwallis-- Part 1: Built of Teak in India

From Wikipedia.

The USS Hornet came close to being captured in April 1815 by the HMS Cornwallis.

The HMS Cornwallis was a third rate ship-of-the line carrying 74 cannons.  Launched 12 May 1813 in Bombay, India, and built of teak.  Its construction was delayed earlier in the War of 1812 when HMS Java, which had been carrying copper sheathing from England, was captured by the USS Constitution.

On 27 April 1815, it engaged the sloop USS Hornet which had mistaken it for a merchant ship.  Heavily outgunned, the Hornet was forced to make a run for it and had to thrown its cannons and much more  overboard, but it did manage to get away.

That was a very uneven battle and bad mistake for the Hornet to make.  A sloop should never take on a ship-of-the-line.

Oops!  --Brock-Perry