Jesse Elliott, USN-- Part 8: Last Years

Because of the allegations, Elliott was recalled to the United States in 1838, where he was politically unpopular at the time (possibly stemming back to his performance at the Battle of Lake Erie and subsequent feud with Perry), and was convicted of the charges.

Suspended from duty for four years until the remaining charges were dismissed by President John Tyler in October 1843.

Appointed commander of the Philadelpha Navy Yard in December 1844, he remained there until his death on 10 December 1845.

He is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia. After being overgrown for many years, his grave was reidentified in 2012.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Presidents Who Served in the War of 1812-- Part 2: Andrew Jackson and Others

As mentioned in the previous post, James Buchanan served in the War of 1812 as a private in Henry Shippen's Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Division of the Pennsylvania Militia and participated in the defense of Baltimore.

As stated before, only two of the Founding Fathers served in the American Revolution, but a total of five were in the War of 1812.  Starting with Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) and then William Henry Harrison (1841), John Tyler (1841-1845), Zachary Taylor (1849-1850) and James Buchanan (1857-1861).

But, the War of 1812 is forever linked to Andrew Jackson who led American forces to victory at the Battle of New Orleans.  It was a battle where a ragtag American Army defeated a larger trained professional British Army in a battle that saved the Mississippi River from British control and was actually fought after the war was over, but due to slow communication no one knew it was over.

It should also be noted that Jackson's military career began when he was just thirteen.  as a teenager, he served as messenger for an American unit during the American Revolution.  But he was definitely not one of the Founding Fathers at that age.

Moreover, during his quite colorful life, Jackson took part in 103 duels -- however killing just one man.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Wool in the Chesapeake Bay Seems to Be Going to the Birds-- Part 1

From the November 13, 2020, Bay Journal "Fort Wool, nesting  seabirds both need  saving" by Terry McGovern.

Recently, efforts have been made to turn Fort Wool into a habitat for nesting seabirds.   But, Fort Wool is also a historic site and saw use during the Civil War and other wars, including World War II.  

It was built on an island of granite blocks after the War of 1812, partially in response to the British attack on Washington, D.C.  It and the completion of nearby Fort Monroe allowed American cannons to control access to Hampton Roads.

It also served a s a summer residence for two U.S. presidents:  Andrew Jackson and John Tyler and it was an initial sanctuary  for enslaved blacks escaping to freedom under the protection of the Union Army.  Guns from Fort Wool fired on the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in the Battle of Hampton Roads in March 1862.

Union president Abraham Lincoln observed the first Union attempt to take Norfolk, Virginia, from the fort's ramparts in May 1862.

Until recently, the fort was visited by thousands of people a year and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

--Brock-Perry

Abel P. Upshur-- Part 3: As Secretary of State, Death

On february 28, 1844, along with U.S. President John Tyler and other dignitaries, Abel P. Upshur was on the Potomac River aboard the new navy steamship USS Princeton, when he and several others were killed in a gun explosion.  He was buried at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C..

Also killed were the Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Gilmer and Beverly Kennon, the Navy's chief of construction.  Twenty others were injured.  President Tyler survived because he was below deck at the time.

--Brock-Perry

Richard Stockton, Jr.-- Part 1

I have to wonder whether this Richard Stockton, Jr., who delivered the sermon trying to get the student leaders to renounce their petition on behest of Princeton President Smith, was related to the commander of the USS Princeton on that fateful day the in the 1840s when the Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of State were killed and President Tyler came close to being killed as well.

--Brock-Perry