Downes took command of the USS Macedonian in 1818 and set out on a three year show of American power to South America and beyond. On this trip he decided to make some money giving protection, passage and banking to pirates, privateers and others. He became quite rich from this. I am surprised he was able to keep his rank in the Navy for doing this.
Regardles of this other stuff, John Downes became commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron and from 1828-1829, commanded the USS Java.
From 1832-1834, he commanded the Pacific Squadron. In 1832, he went to the coast of Sumatra in the USS Potomac to avenge the attack on the American merchantman Friendship, of Salem, Massachusetts. He attacked four Malay forts, killing all their defenders and then bombarded a village until it caught fire.
He then took the Potomac on an around the world voyage, becoming the second American vessel to circumnavigate the globe. (The first was the USS Vincinnes, commanded by William B. Finch.)
--Brock-Perry
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