born Dec. 31, 1783, The Trap, Del., U.S.
died Nov. 10, 1825, at sea en route from the Mediterranean Sea to New York City
U.S. naval officer.
He joined the navy in 1800 and served with War of 1812 he was ordered to cruise the lakes between Canada and the U.S. When British troops threatened Plattsburg, N.Y., site of U.S. Army headquarters on the northern frontier, he sailed his 14-ship fleet to meet the British 16-ship squadron on Lake Champlain. His victory there (Sept. 11, 1814) saved New York and Vermont from invasion.