The Career of Thomas Macdonough-- Part 1

From Classic NY History  "Macdonough Monument:  History of Plattsburgh's Famous Monument" by Brian Kachijian.

Thomas Macdonough began his naval career in 1800.  He was born on New Year's Eve 1783 and was an orphan by the age of twelve.  His father served in the American Revolution.

He began naval service at the age of sixteen and served in the Barbary War against Algiers, Morocco, Tunis and Tripoli.  After that, he became captain of a merchant ship named the  Gullivar that transported goods between New York, England and India.

Upon the declaration of war between the U.S. and England, he returned to New York and was on his way to greatness.  He was placed in charge of naval forces on Lake Champlain at Plattsburgh, N.Y., where he oversaw the construction of American warships.

--Brock-Macdonough