John Hazelwood
Encyclopedia
John Hazelwood was an officer in the Continental Navy
.
Born in England
, Hazelwood was appointed to superintend the building of fire rafts for the protection of Philadelphia against the British
during the Revolutionary War
.
A commissioned officer in the Pennsylvania Navy
, Commodore
Hazelwood commanded all units of the Pennsylvania and Continental navies participating in the defense of the Delaware River
approaches to Philadelphia in 1777. His gunboat
s and galleys engaged British men-of-war
on October 23, near river obstructions; and, after the British frigate
Merlin and ship of the line
Augusta grounded, their crews were forced to burn them. Later Commodore Hazelwood took command of Continental vessels in Delaware Bay
.
In recognition of his services in the War for Independence, the Continental Congress
voted him a handsome sword, now in the collection of the Naval Historical Foundation
.
Commodore Hazelwood died in Philadelphia on March 1, 1800.
USS Hazelwood (DD-107)
was named in his honor.
Continental Navy
The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War, and was formed in 1775. Through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron, John Adams and vigorous Congressional support in the face of stiff opposition, the fleet cumulatively became relatively...
.
Born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Hazelwood was appointed to superintend the building of fire rafts for the protection of Philadelphia against the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
.
A commissioned officer in the Pennsylvania Navy
Pennsylvania Navy
The Pennsylvania Navy served as the naval force of Pennsylvania during the American Revolution and afterward, until the formation of the United States Navy...
, Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Hazelwood commanded all units of the Pennsylvania and Continental navies participating in the defense of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
approaches to Philadelphia in 1777. His gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s and galleys engaged British men-of-war
Man of war
The man-of-war was a Royal Navy expression for a powerful warship from the 16th to the 19th century. The term often refers to a ship armed with cannon and propelled primarily by sails, as opposed to a galley which is propelled primarily by oars...
on October 23, near river obstructions; and, after the British frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Merlin and ship of the line
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
Augusta grounded, their crews were forced to burn them. Later Commodore Hazelwood took command of Continental vessels in Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
.
In recognition of his services in the War for Independence, the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
voted him a handsome sword, now in the collection of the Naval Historical Foundation
Naval Historical Foundation
The Naval Historical Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1926, has a broad mission to preserve and promote the naval history of the United States by supporting official Sea Services programs and institutions, meeting the needs of the public for naval history, and collecting historical...
.
Commodore Hazelwood died in Philadelphia on March 1, 1800.
USS Hazelwood (DD-107)
USS Hazelwood (DD-107)
The first USS Hazelwood was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named in honor of John Hazelwood.-History:...
was named in his honor.