Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845

Variant names

Hide Profile

Jesse Duncan Elliott, United States naval officer, was born on July 14, 1782 in Hagerstown, Maryland. In the War of 1812 he was second in command to Oliver Hazard Perry during the Battle of Lake Erie while aboard the Niagara. He was criticized for keeping his ship out of action during the battle. He was later court-martialed in 1840 for his conduct aboard the Constitution. He died on December 10, 1845, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

From the description of Letter, February 28, 1835. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 46326025

Elliott (1782-1845) was a naval officer who served under Commodore Perry during the Battle of Lake Erie. The Clarke Historical Library has one of Elliott's published speeches.

From the description of Correspondence, 1843. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 43626858

American naval commodore.

From the description of Jesse D. Elliott letter to Dolley Madison [manuscript], 1845 January 15. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647998710

American naval officer, commissioned 1810. Commands included West Indian Squadron, 1829-1832; Boston Navy Yard, 1833-1835; Mediterranean Squadron, 1835-1838. Court-martialed on a variety of charges and suspended from duty, 1839; reinstated 1843. Commandant of Philadelphia Navy Yard 1844-1845.

From the description of Papers, 1824-1839. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122616996

Naval officer.

From the description of Certificate issued by Jesse D. Elliott, 1813. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980818

Elliott was born in Hagerstown, MD in 1782. He enlisted in the Navy in 1804 and saw action in the Barbary Wars, 1805-1807. He served in the War of 1812 and won praise for his actions at the Battle of Lake Erie. He took command of the Lake Erie Fleet once the battle was over. He served in the second Barbary War, the Brazil Squadron and commanded the West Indies Squadron and the Mediterranean Squadron. His last billet was commander of the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

From the description of Letter, January 20, 1834. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 704553691

Commodore James Barron, born 15 September 1768 in Hampton, Virginia, died 21 April 1851 in Norfolk, served under his father, Commodore James Barron the Elder, in the Revolutionary War. He was made Captain in the Virginia Navy in 1799 and transferred to the newly formed U.S. Navy in 1803. During the War with Tripoli he commanded the U.S. Frigates New York and President when his brother, Commodore Samuel Barron, was commander of the Mediterranean Squadron. He assisted his brother in that command when the latter's health failed and returned with him to Norfolk in 1805.

Appointed Commander of the Mediterranean Squadron in 1806 with the rank of Commodore, which title he retained for the rest of his life, he sailed aboard the U.S. Chesapeake. The British ship Leopard attacked the Chesapeake when Barron refused to allow his ship to be boarded in a search for British deserters. After a brief battle, Barron surrendered and on the request of his junior officers he was brought before a Naval court martial. The command was turned over to Capt. Stephen Decatur who in the Algerian War of 1815 became a national hero. Barron was suspended from the Navy for five years in a decision criticized by many, including B. Cocke of Washington and Robert Saunders of Williamsburg.

Barron took command of the merchant ship Portia, and after several voyages was caught in a Danish port by the outbreak of the War of 1812. He attempted to get passage home but was refused it because of the Danish neutrality and remained in Copenhagen until 1819. During this period he supported himself with his inventions including a new type of mill, a rope spinning machine, a cork cutter, and a dough kneading machine. Upon his return he sought a command in the Navy and in the course of this an argument by mail with Decatur resulted in the famous duel in which Barron was seriously injured and Decatur fatally. His second in the duel, Capt. J. D. Elliott was coupled with Barron in responsibility for the duel, though perhaps unfairly.

A Naval Court of Enquiry was held in 1821 to clear the name of Barron for his absence in the War of 1812 and other charges brought against him. The decision was very noncommittal and was criticized by many, including Carter Beverley and John Taliaferro of Williamsburg.

In 1824, Barron was given the command of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, largely through the influence of his friend, General Andrew Jackson. While there he participated in the entertaining of General Lafayette when he visited the U.S.

Commodore Barron took command of the Gosport Navy Yard in 1825 where he remained until 1831 when he returned to the command of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. In 1837, he resigned that command because an officer junior to him had been appointed President of the Naval Board in Washington, and was without command until 1842. From 13 March to 30 November 1842 he commanded the Navy Asylum, a retirement home for Naval men in Philadelphia. In that position he was also in charge of the training and examination of Midshipmen for the Navy, and his advice was asked when plans were being made for organization of the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1847. In 1845, he returned to Norfolk where he lived in retirement until his death in 1851.

During all this time he continued his interest in inventions which included a new type of pump and bellows ventilator for ships, a steam-powered battleship, a new type of dry dock, and a cylinder steam for ships developed with Amos Kendali. He was instrumental in the development of the Naval flag signal, which he first revised in 1798.

Commodore Barron supported the education of his grandson, James Barron Hope, whose early letters, a poem on Washington, and other poems are included at the end of Box 11. (See the James Barron Hope Papers for a continuation of these papers, and the Samuel Barron Papers for a chart to the genealogy of the Barron family.)

From the guide to the James Barron Papers (1), 1766-1899., (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Thompson, Abraham Rand, 1781-1866. Letter, 1833, June 7 : Charlestown, Massachusetts, to Loammi Baldwin, Esq., Norfolk, Virginia. Duke University, Medical Center Library & Archives
referencedIn Holmes family papers, 1711-1938 Houghton Library
creatorOf Tazewell family. Papers, 1756-1931. Library of Virginia
creatorOf James Barron Papers (1), 1766-1899. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
referencedIn Lewis Cass papers (1774-1924) William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Brevoort, Henry B., Captain. Detroit. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Papers, 1824-1839. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn War of 1812 mss., 1776-1879 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Jesse D. Elliott letter to Dolley Madison [manuscript], 1845 January 15. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848. Letters : to Thomas Aspinwall and W.L. Perkins, 1816, 1845. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1785-1819. Niagara. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
creatorOf Harding, Charlotte Hanes, 1873-1951. Autographs collection, 1744-1928 Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Jesse Duncan Elliott correspondence, 1843 November 5. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Stevens, Thomas Holdup, d. 1841. Stevens family papers, 1810-1952. Library of Congress
creatorOf Bayles, George, 1836-1901. Canfield-Dickerson families papers, 1738-1926. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn John Shaw Papers, 1798-1895, (bulk 1810-1822) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Papers 1840 Mar. 3l-Apr. 13. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Papers, 1826-1828. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Correspondence, 1843. Clarke Historical Library
creatorOf Barron, James, 1769-1851. Papers, 1776-1899. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Letter, February 28, 1835. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IId, 1837-1844 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Lewis Cass papers (1774-1924) William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Chauncey, Isaac, 1772-1840. Letter books, 1805-1821. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Isaac Chauncey papers 1801-1818 Chauncey, Isaac papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Certificate issued by Jesse D. Elliott, 1813. Library of Congress
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845. Letter, January 20, 1834. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution, National Anthropological Archives. [Contact repository for more information].
creatorOf Roberts, R. Letter to Jesse Elliott : Stockton, Calif. : ALS, 1849 Jan. 20. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Elliott, Jesse Duncan, 1782-1845. Autograph letters signed (2) : U.S. Sloop Ontario, to Henry Wheaton, 1815 May 13 and 17. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn War of 1812 mss., 1776-1879 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, John, 1735-1826 person
associatedWith Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848. person
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith A. P. (Abel Parker) Upshur, 1790-1844 person
associatedWith Barron, James person
associatedWith Barron, James, 1769-1851. person
associatedWith Barton, Charles Crillon, d. 1851. person
associatedWith Barton, William P. C. (William Paul Crillon), 1786-1856, person
associatedWith Biddle, James, 1783-1848. person
associatedWith Boerum, William. person
associatedWith Boyd, Thomas J. person
associatedWith Branch, John, 1782-1863, person
associatedWith Brent, Thomas W. person
associatedWith Bullus, Oscar, ca. 1800-1871. person
associatedWith Chauncey, Isaac, 1772-1840. person
associatedWith Colhoun, John. person
associatedWith Constellation (Frigate) corporateBody
associatedWith Constitution (Frigate) corporateBody
associatedWith Crane, William Montgomery, 1784-1846. person
associatedWith Dallas, George Mifflin, 1792-1864. person
associatedWith Dayton, Aaron Ogden, 1796-1858, person
associatedWith Decatur, Stephen, 1779-1820 person
associatedWith Dickerson, Mahlon, 1770-1853, person
associatedWith Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849. person
associatedWith Green, Duff, 1791-1875 person
associatedWith Hambleton, John N. person
associatedWith Harding, Charlotte, 1873-1951, person
correspondedWith Harwood, Andrew person
associatedWith Harwood, Andrew Allen, 1802-1884. person
associatedWith Holland, John C. person
correspondedWith Holmes family. family
associatedWith Hunter, C. G. person
associatedWith Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 person
associatedWith John Adams (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Kendall, Amos, 1789-1869 person
associatedWith Livingston, Edward, 1764-1863, person
associatedWith Madison, Dolley, 1768-1849, person
associatedWith McDonough, James T. person
associatedWith Neville, Fred. A. person
associatedWith Offley, David, d. 1838, person
associatedWith Patterson, Daniel Todd, 1786-1839. person
associatedWith Pearson, George F. person
associatedWith Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1785-1819. person
associatedWith Phillimore, John, Sir, 1781-1840. person
associatedWith Porter, David, 1780-1843, person
associatedWith Porter, William David, 1809-1864. person
associatedWith Ringgold, William S. person
associatedWith Robertson, William J. H. person
associatedWith Roberts, R. person
associatedWith Rodgers, John, 1773-1838, person
associatedWith Shark (Schooner) corporateBody
associatedWith Shaw, John, 1773-1823. person
associatedWith Shubrick, William Bradford, 1790-1874. person
associatedWith Southard, Samuel L. (Samuel Lewis), 1787-1842, person
associatedWith Steele, Henry A. person
associatedWith Stevenson, Andrew, 1784-1857. person
associatedWith Stevens, William Oliver, 1878-1955 person
associatedWith Stoddart, John, Sir, 1773-1856, person
associatedWith Tazewell family. family
associatedWith Thompson, Abraham Rand, 1781-1866. person
associatedWith Tyler, John, 1790-1862. person
associatedWith United States (Frigate) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Marine Corps corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Navy corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Navy Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Navy. Mediterranean Squadron. corporateBody
associatedWith Upshur, A. P. (Abel Parker), 1790-1844 person
associatedWith Watson, James M. person
associatedWith Watson, John F. (John Fanning), 1779-1860. person
associatedWith Wheaton, Henry, 1785-1848, person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Woodbury, Levi, 1789-1851, person
associatedWith Wood, Harry P. T. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Pennsylvania
United States
United States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
Subject
United States
Chesapeake
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Dueling
Dueling
Lake Erie, Battle of, 1813
United States. Navy
United States. Navy
Patents
Prizes (Property captured at sea)
Subject: Inventions
Occupation
Naval officers
Activity

Person

Birth 1782-07-14

Death 1845-12-10

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gf1g8d

Ark ID: w6gf1g8d

SNAC ID: 27959451