Edward Trenchard
Encyclopedia
Edward Trenchard was a captain of the United States Navy
, who saw service in the Quasi-War
with France, the First Barbary War
, the War of 1812
, and the Second Barbary War
. He was the father of Rear Admiral Stephen Decatur Trenchard
.
, the son of Curtis Trenchard. The family were descendants of George Trenchard (1655–1712) from the village of Wolverton in Dorset
, who had come to America with William Penn
in 1682. Edward's grandfather, also George, (1706–1780), was the Attorney-General of West New Jersey in 1767-1775 and commanded the Salem Light Horse during the Revolutionary War
. Edward was initially apprenticed as an engraver
under his uncle, James Trenchard, the editor of the Columbian Magazine, and a distinguished designer and an engraver of book-plates. However, a sea voyage to England at the age of 16 turned his mind to a military career, and on his return, he obtained a midshipman
's warrant on April 30, 1800.
with France. A strong friendship sprang up between Trenchard and a junior lieutenant
, Stephen Decatur
, so much so that Trenchard later named his son, Stephen Decatur Trenchard
.
After the French war the Adams was ordered to the Mediterranean, and participated in the operations off Tripoli
in 1803. The following year Trenchard was transferred to the seeing more action off Tripoli, and when his ship was fired upon by the Spanish batteries near the Strait of Gibraltar
on September 21, 1805.
Trenchard served aboard the in the Home Squadron
from 1806 to 1810, and was assigned to duty at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
in 1811.
On August 30, 1812, he was ordered to Sacketts Harbor
on Lake Ontario
, to supervise the building of the sloop by Henry Eckford
. The building of Madison progressed with extraordinary speed, the 500-ton ship being launched on November 26. Trenchard assumed command of the Madison with the rank of Master Commandant
and took part in the naval operations on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812
. Trenchard fell ill with "lake fever" (the Madison at one time having eighty of her two hundred men on the sick list) and on July 21, 1813, left the ship to recuperate. On May 15, 1814, he rejoined the ship, taking part in the blockade of Kingston, Ontario
, in September 1814. After the end of the war he commanded the frigate , and took part in the operations off Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis, during the Second Barbary War
of 1815.
on anti-slavery operations off the west coast of Africa. His officers included Matthew C. Perry, Silas Stringham
, and William Mervine
, who all went on to distinguished navy careers. Cyane had not long been on station when on April 10, she captured two brigs and five schooners close in shore near the mouth of the River Gallinos. The officers and crew of the captured vessels were sent to the United States. However malaria
and yellow fever
, endemic in West Africa, took a heavy toll on the crew of Cyane. On April 20, Trenchard reported that thirty-six of his men were on the sick-list. In response Cyane was ordered home, and her place was taken by the . On returning to the United States, Trenchard was assigned to duty in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but his health had been irrevocably damaged, and he died in 1824.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, who saw service in the Quasi-War
Quasi-War
The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought mostly at sea between the United States and French Republic from 1798 to 1800. In the United States, the conflict was sometimes also referred to as the Franco-American War, the Pirate Wars, or the Half-War.-Background:The Kingdom of France had been a...
with France, the First Barbary War
First Barbary War
The First Barbary War , also known as the Barbary Coast War or the Tripolitan War, was the first of two wars fought between the United States and the North African Berber Muslim states known collectively as the Barbary States...
, the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and the Second Barbary War
Second Barbary War
The Second Barbary War , also known as the Algerine or Algerian War, was the second of two wars fought between the United States and the Ottoman Empire's North African regencies of Tripoli, Tunis, and Algeria known collectively as the Barbary states. The war between the Barbary States and the U.S...
. He was the father of Rear Admiral Stephen Decatur Trenchard
Stephen Decatur Trenchard
Stephen Decatur Trenchard was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. He was present at the Battle of Taku Forts in 1859, and commanded the supply ship and gunboat throughout the American Civil War, seeing action at both Battles of Fort Fisher...
.
Early life and background
Trenchard was born in Salem, New JerseySalem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
, the son of Curtis Trenchard. The family were descendants of George Trenchard (1655–1712) from the village of Wolverton in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, who had come to America with William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
in 1682. Edward's grandfather, also George, (1706–1780), was the Attorney-General of West New Jersey in 1767-1775 and commanded the Salem Light Horse during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Edward was initially apprenticed as an engraver
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
under his uncle, James Trenchard, the editor of the Columbian Magazine, and a distinguished designer and an engraver of book-plates. However, a sea voyage to England at the age of 16 turned his mind to a military career, and on his return, he obtained a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
's warrant on April 30, 1800.
War service
He was appointed to the frigate for a cruise in the West Indies during the Quasi-WarQuasi-War
The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought mostly at sea between the United States and French Republic from 1798 to 1800. In the United States, the conflict was sometimes also referred to as the Franco-American War, the Pirate Wars, or the Half-War.-Background:The Kingdom of France had been a...
with France. A strong friendship sprang up between Trenchard and a junior lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur, Jr. , was an American naval officer notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Worcester county, the son of a U.S. Naval Officer who served during the American Revolution. Shortly after attending college Decatur...
, so much so that Trenchard later named his son, Stephen Decatur Trenchard
Stephen Decatur Trenchard
Stephen Decatur Trenchard was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. He was present at the Battle of Taku Forts in 1859, and commanded the supply ship and gunboat throughout the American Civil War, seeing action at both Battles of Fort Fisher...
.
After the French war the Adams was ordered to the Mediterranean, and participated in the operations off Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
in 1803. The following year Trenchard was transferred to the seeing more action off Tripoli, and when his ship was fired upon by the Spanish batteries near the Strait of Gibraltar
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq , albeit the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or...
on September 21, 1805.
Trenchard served aboard the in the Home Squadron
Home Squadron
The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy and the slave trade, make coastal surveys, and train ships to relieve others on distant stations...
from 1806 to 1810, and was assigned to duty at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
in 1811.
On August 30, 1812, he was ordered to Sacketts Harbor
Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who founded it in the early 19th century.The Village of Sackets Harbor is within the western part of the...
on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, to supervise the building of the sloop by Henry Eckford
Henry Eckford (shipbuilder)
Henry Eckford was a Scottish-born shipbuilder, naval architect, industrial engineer, and entrepreneur who worked for the United States Navy and the navy of the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.-Early life:...
. The building of Madison progressed with extraordinary speed, the 500-ton ship being launched on November 26. Trenchard assumed command of the Madison with the rank of Master Commandant
Master Commandant
Master commandant was a rank within the early United States Navy. The rank of master commandant was slightly higher than lieutenant, and a master commandant would often command warships too small to justify the command of a full captain. In the United States Navy, the rank was shortened to...
and took part in the naval operations on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Trenchard fell ill with "lake fever" (the Madison at one time having eighty of her two hundred men on the sick list) and on July 21, 1813, left the ship to recuperate. On May 15, 1814, he rejoined the ship, taking part in the blockade of Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, in September 1814. After the end of the war he commanded the frigate , and took part in the operations off Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis, during the Second Barbary War
Second Barbary War
The Second Barbary War , also known as the Algerine or Algerian War, was the second of two wars fought between the United States and the Ottoman Empire's North African regencies of Tripoli, Tunis, and Algeria known collectively as the Barbary states. The war between the Barbary States and the U.S...
of 1815.
Africa Squadron
In 1820 Trenchard was placed in command of the 20-gun sloop-of-war of the Africa SquadronAfrica Squadron
The Africa Squadron was a unit of the United States Navy that operated from 1819 to 1861 to suppress the slave trade along the coast of West Africa...
on anti-slavery operations off the west coast of Africa. His officers included Matthew C. Perry, Silas Stringham
Silas Stringham
Silas Horton Stringham was an admiral in the United States Navy.-Biography:Born in Middletown, New York, Stringham served in the United States Navy from the War of 1812 through the American Civil War. During the War of 1812, he served in the frigate and took part in the engagements with the...
, and William Mervine
William Mervine
William Mervine was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, whose career included service in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, who all went on to distinguished navy careers. Cyane had not long been on station when on April 10, she captured two brigs and five schooners close in shore near the mouth of the River Gallinos. The officers and crew of the captured vessels were sent to the United States. However malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
, endemic in West Africa, took a heavy toll on the crew of Cyane. On April 20, Trenchard reported that thirty-six of his men were on the sick-list. In response Cyane was ordered home, and her place was taken by the . On returning to the United States, Trenchard was assigned to duty in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but his health had been irrevocably damaged, and he died in 1824.