James Sever, USN: A Short Naval Career

James Sever:  Captain, May 11, 1798.  Discharged 18 June 1801.    Under Peace Establishment Act.

A very short naval career.  Perhaps due to the problems the USS Congress had on its first mission and what his subordinates had to say about him.  Of course,too,he started at one of the highest officer rates in the Navy.  There was no climbing through the ranks for him.

But, this was a restart to the U.S. Navy.

Maybe the short career is why it is so difficult to find information on him.

--Brock-Perry-Sever

Captain James Sever-- Part 3: Some More on the Captain

The Naval History and Heritage Command  Navy Officers 1798-1900  has James Sever, Captain, 11 May 1798.  Discharged 18 June 1801 under Peace Establishment Act.

Also, under this under Christening, Launching and Commissioning of U.S. Navy Ships. I found this:

The first mention of the christening of a Navy warship we have  is that of the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," at Boston 21 October 1797.  Her sponsor, Captain James Sever, USN, stood on the weather deck at the bow.

"At fifteen minutes after twelve she commenced a movement into the water with such steadiness, majesty and exactness  as to fill every heart with  sensations of joy and delight."

As the Constitution ran out, Captain broke a bottle of fine old Madeira over the heel of the bowsprit.

The National Museum of the U.S. Navy has then sword and leather sea chest of James Sever, commander of the USS Congress during the Quasi War with France.

--Brock-Perry

Christopher R. Perry-- Part 4: Personal Life, Five Sons in Navy

Christopher Perry returned to the United States in July 1800 and the crew was discharged.  The General Greene was placed in ordinary at Washington Navy Yard and reduced to a hulk in 1805 before being burned Aug. 24. 1814, to prevent capture by the British.

Perry and most of the other officers of the U.S. Navy were laid off by the Naval Peace Establishment Act of 1801 which reduced the size of the Navy.  Only nine of the 42 captains of the Navy retained their commissions.

PERSONAL LIFE

Perry married  Sarah Wallace Alexander on August 2, 1784.  She was the descendant of an uncle of famed Scottish hero William Wallace.  They had eight children.  All five of the sons were officers in the U.S. Navy who died in the service.  The two most famous are Oliver Hazard Perry and Matthew Calbraith Perry.

I was unable to find out anything about Christopher Perry in the War of 1812.

In 1800, he became the owner of a large house in Newport, Rhode Island, that still stands and is called the Knowles-Perry House which is probably where he lived for the rest of his life.  He died in 1818. and is buried in the Belmont-Perry plot in the Island Cemetery in Newport.

--Brock-Perry