born Oct. 1, 1781, Burlington, N.J., U.S.
killed in action June 1, 1813, in a sea battle off Boston, Mass.
U.S. naval officer.
He served under Tripolitan War . In the War of 1812 he commanded the USS Hornet in the capture of the British Peacock . Shortly thereafter he was promoted to captain of the USS Chesapeake . In 1813 he accepted a challenge from the British Shannon to a sea fight off the coast of Boston. The Chesapeake was defeated in less than an hour, and Lawrence was mortally wounded. His last words, "Don't give up the ship," came to express one of the U.S. Navy's most cherished traditions.