John Rodgers (naval officer, War of 1812)
Encyclopedia
John Rodgers was a senior naval officer in the United States Navy who served under six Presidents for nearly four decades during its formative years in the 1790s through the late 1830s, committing the greater bulk of his adult life to his country. His service took him through many operations in the Quasi-War
with France, The Barbary Wars
in North Africa and the War of 1812
with Britain. As a senior officer in the young American navy he played a major role in the development of the standards, customs and traditions that emerged during this time. Rodgers was, among other incidents, noted for commanding the largest American squadron in his day to sail the Mediterranean Sea
. After serving with distinction as a Lieutenant he was soon promoted directly to the rank of captain (the rank of Master Commandant
did not exist at that time). During his naval career he commanded a number of navy ships, including the USS John Adams
, the flagship of the fleet that defeated the Barbary states of North Africa
. During the War of 1812 Rogers fired the first shot of the war aboard his next flagship, the USS President, and also played a leading role in the recapture of Washington after the capitol was burned by the British, while also having to endure his own hometown and house burned and his family displaced. Later in his career he headed the Navy Board of Commissioners and served briefly as Secretary of the Navy. Following in his footsteps, Rodgers' son and several grandsons and great-grandsons also became Commodores and Admirals in the United States Navy
.
. Rodgers' father, Colonel John Rodgers, was born in Scotland
in 1726 and was a proponent of the patriot cause. He emigrated to America and married Elizabeth Reynolds from Delaware
in 1760. Born in 1742, she was also of Scottish ancestry. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters, of which John Rodgers was among the oldest Rodgers was born in 1772 on a farm in a village near the Susquehanna Ferry where he was raised for the first thirteen years of his childhood. This village was named 'Havre de Grace' by Lafayette after a famous port of the same name in France while Rodgers was still a youth. The young Rodgers was an unusually strong and vital boy who spent much of his time fishing in the waters of the Susquehanna River
and Chesapeake Bay
near his home. He attended school in this local and was given to reading many books about seafaring life which fostered his love for ships and the sea. He had often seen schooner-rigged ships berthed at Havre de Grace but longed to see the large square-rigged vessels he had always read about. With a strong desire to see such ships he decided to go to Baltimore
and, not revealing this desire to anyone, made his way to this city on his own accord on foot. Upon realizing that his son John was missing, Rodgers father, Colonel Rodgers, set out on horseback and came upon his son just as he was entering the city, insisting that his son return home to the family. But Rodgers, now in his mid-teens and with Baltimore now in sight, ardently refused. Realizing his son had his heart set on seeing the large seagoing ships berthed at Baltimore and wanting to go to sea, his father compromised with the determined youth and arranged his son's apprenticeship with Captain Benjamin Folger, a master ship builder of Baltimore, a veteran of the American revolution having served aboard merchant ships, and as commander of the Felicity, the ship used in the capture of the notorious privateer 'Jack-o-the-Lantern'. By the time the young Rodgers had joined him he was captain of his own ship the Maryland. The young Rodgers was put up on board a ship where he would remain on for the five years of his apprenticeship. Upon bidding his son farewell Colonel Rodgers requested that he never indulge in strong drink, and to this request the younger Rodgers promised, and kept his word. In adult life Rodgers did not indulge in spirituous drink.
in the early months of 1793, returning home with a load of salt. Rodgers' next voyage brought him to Hamburg, Germany
but due to severe winter conditions on the North Sea
he was forced to put up in England for the winter and didn't reach his destination until the spring of next year. In September of 1795 he departed for Baltimore from Liverpool
arriving home after a long passage that consumed three months. There were many events during this time of Rodgers' life that have been lost to history, however many of them can be ascertained from the logbooks of the Jane covering the period of July-August of 1796 during her homeward bound voyage from Liverpool, a time when France and England were still at war. It was aboard the Jane where Rodgers mastered the art of ship's command, the exploits of which came natural to him.
While in command of the Jane, Rodgers' strong and determined character was once made plainly evident during one of his voyages navigating the North Sea
. Adverse winter winds had carried the vessel off course, the ship's provisions were almost exhausted and three of his crewmen had frozen to death in one night, while most of the others had lapsed into hopeless despair. When Rodgers ordered some of the crew to go aloft to secure the ice encrusted rigging they refused. Outraged at their desolation Rodgers stripped off his jacket and shirt and before going aloft told the insubordinate crew to watch what a man could do. While climbing the frozen rigging bare-chested the crew, awe
struck, immediately rose to his aid and in little time they had secured the faltering rigging. Under the grim circumstances of their situation Rodgers put the matter behind him and days later they returned safely to port.
serving aboard the Constellation
and the Concord
in the Mediterranean and later became a rear Admiral during the Civil War
. Rodgers also had several grandsons and great-grandsons who all became officers in the U.S. Navy.
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Roger's service in the United States Navy
extended through the Quasi War with France, the Barbary Wars
in North Africa and through the War of 1812
. In 1815 he was appointed to the Board of Naval Commissioners, serving through the Second Barbary War
until he retired in 1837.
appointed junior officers for the first three ships constructed for the young American Navy where John Rodgers was appointed 2nd Lieutenant of the frigate
USS Constellation
, under the command of Thomas Truxtun
. All of these officers were expeditiously confirmed by the Senate the next day. He helped capture the French
frigate Insurgent
during Constellation's engagement
with her on February 9, 1799, and was given command of her as prize master, along with Midshipman Porter and eleven seamen, to which the task of guarding more than 160 prisoners was also given. That evening gale force winds set in separating the two ships, which left Rodgers, Porter and the few seamen aboard the Insurgent to guard the prisoners without the support of the crew from the Constellation nearby. Just before surrendering their ship the crew had thrown overboard the gratings to the hold along with handcuffs and other items used to secure prisoners. Greatly outnumbered, Rodgers, seized all weapons and ordered the prisoners to the lower hold, giving orders to open fire with blunderbusses
should the prisoners try to breach the passage way to their hold. After guarding the prisoners and navigating the captured vessel for two days and three nights through stormy winter weather Rogers arrived at Bassettere, Saint Kitts
, on February 13th. At this time Britain and France were still at war so the inhabitants of the British colony were delighted to see the French vessel arriving in American hands. For their effort the British commander-in-chief of St. Kitts sent Truxtun a letter of congratulations and offered him every service within his command. The two ships were then refitted and supplied while the Insurgent received a new crew. On March 5, 1799 Rodgers was promoted to Captain and received written orders to take command of the captured ship.
In June of 1799 Rodgers relinquished command of the Insurgent
, then at Norfolk, Virginia, receiving a letter from Secretary of the Navy Stoddert
ordering him to Baltimore
to supervise the outfitting of the USS Maryland
, a Sloop-of-war
bearing 20 guns, and then to take command of that ship. Three months later he took command of the Maryland. In March 1801, he delivered the ratified Convention of 1800 (Treaty of Mortefontaine)
, which ended the Quasi-War
, to France.
Placed in command of the John Adams
on May 3 of the following year, Rodgers was ordered to sail for Tripoli
to patrol its surrounding waters for three weeks, joining the Constitution the President along with a number of other vessels. Upon his arrival he immediately approached the fortifications and batteries of Tripoli and engaged the gunboats and batteries defending the city. During this time he also pursued and boarded several neutral ships attempting to bring grain and other supplies to Tripoli, the inhabitants of which were now facing starvation and other indemnities because of the blockade. After twelve days he encountered the Tripolian vessel Meshouda
, bearing 20 guns, which he engaged and captured. The Tripolian vessel was previously blockaded at Gibraltar and had been carrying a load of military supplies to Tripoli. His brilliant record fighting the corsairs won him appointment as Commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron in May 1805. Since Commodore Barron's
health at this time had deteriorated it was practically impossible for him to maintain command of the squadron. Rodgers accordingly relinquished command of the squadron upon receiving a letter dispatched to him by the Essex on May 22. Consisting of the ships, Constitution, President, Constellation, Enterprise, Essex, Siren, Argus, Hornet, Vixen, Nautilus and Franklin, together with a number of gunboats
(including No. 5
, and bomb vessel
, Rodgers was now in command of the largest American squadron ever to assemble in the Mediterranean. The blockading force was so overwhelming that, after much deliberation and appeal from the Dey
, a peace treaty was finally negotiated by the end of July.
When news of the treaty reached Washington in the fall of 1805, President Jefferson
ordered all of the ships home with the exception of a frigate and two smaller supporting vessels. Before returning home, Rodgers sailed to Malta
and Syracuse to close down military hospitals and settle accounts. He then stopped at Algiers
and paid a visit to the Dey, who by now was well aware of the treaty with Tripoli, and subsequently extended every courtesy to Rodgers and even consented to him donning his sword. Rodgers in a letter to the Secretary
of the Navy later wrote.. "I am the first Christian that has ever been permitted to visit the Dey of Algiers with sidearms..."
to take command of the New York Flotilla. After the Embargo Act
was passed at the close of 1807, Rodgers commanded operations along the Atlantic coast enforcing its provisions.
At the outbreak of the War of 1812
the American navy was not fully prepared to deal with Britain's large and formidable navy with its hundreds of ships and seasoned commanders and crews, many of whom were already experienced and battle hardened from the Napoleonic wars with France. In 1811, he was in command as Commodore of the off Annapolis when he heard that an American seaman had been "impressed
" by a British frigate off Sandy Hook, New Jersey
. Commodore Rodgers was ordered to sea to "protect American commerce", but he may have had verbal instructions to retaliate for the impressment of British subjects out of American vessels, which was causing much ill-feeling and was a main cause of the War of 1812
.
Early in 1811, Secretary of the Navy, Hamilton
, had ordered the USS President and the USS Argus on patrol duty along the Atlantic coast from the Carolinas to New York. Commodore John Rodgers was in command of President. On May 16, 1811, he sighted and followed the British sloop off the coast of North Carolina, commanded by Arthur Bingham
, thinking it to be HMS Gurreiere. After some hailing and counterhailing, of which very different versions
are given on either side,
a gun was fired, each side accusing the other of the first shot. Rodgers continued to engage the much smaller vessel and after several more broadsides from President, bearing 44 guns, the Little Belt, with only 20, was cut to pieces. The Little Belt lost 13 men killed, including a Midshipman and a lieutenant, and 19 wounded, while the President incurred only one wounded. The incident came to be known as the Little Belt Affair
. It was one among many mishaps between America and Britain that led to the War of 1812
.
on June 18, 1812, the American navy was not fully prepared to engage its massive and formidable Royal Navy
with its seasoned commanders and crews. Many of the American ships were lacking crews and in need of repairs while others were still away at sea. The only ships available for service at this time were berthed at New York, under the command of Commodore John Rodgers. These were Rodgers' own flagship, the President
, along with the United States
, commanded by Commodore Decatur
, the Congress
, commanded by Captain Smith, the Hornet
, commanded by Captain Lawrence
and the Argus
commanded by Lieutenant Sinclair
. However, the British vessels in American waters at this time were relatively few in number and not themselves very representative of the overall might of the Royal Navy.
As soon as Rodgers received news of the declaration of war, fearing that the order to confine naval ships to port would be reconsidered by Congress, he departed New York harbor with his squadron within the hour. In anticipation of the war, Rodgers had already had his squadron fitted and ready to embark on the high seas. Their first objective was a British fleet reported to have recently departed from the West Indies and immediately set a course south-east in search of these ships. The President passed Sandy Hook
on June 21. In the early morning of the 23rd a ship was spotted on the horizon to the north-east which turned out to be the frigate, HMS Belvidera
, commanded by Captain Richard Byron, whereupon Rodgers immediately gave chase, with the Congress following close behind. The Belvidera had already been informed of the inevitability of war by a passing New York pilot boat
and herself immediately turned about, crowded on all sails and began flight to the north-east with a fresh wind behind all ships coming from the west.
The USS President was an unusually fast frigate and by noon had gained on the Belvidera, now only some two and a half miles distant, approximately 75 miles south-west of Nantucket island. While the President was closing its distance with Belvidera Captain Byron began clearing the decks and preparing for action and made ready his stern guns. By 4:30 the wind had relaxed some but the Belvidera was now close enough to be engaged. Seizing this first and tenuous possibility, the President's forecastle bow chasers
fired the first shot of the war, by Rodgers himself, with two more almost immediately following.
All three shots struck Belvidera at her stern, striking the rudder assembly and captain's quarters, killing or wounding nine men. With only a few more shots needed to disable the British vessel the President fired again, but the tide of battle turned when its gun burst, killing 16 men, wounding others, including Rodgers who was violently thrown back with his leg broken from the impact. There was a pause of panic about the entire ship, as now every gun was suspected. Byron seized the opportunity and fired his stern chasers, killing yet another six men. The Belvidera continued a brisk fire, causing damage to the rigging and foresails. The President continued chase but without adequate foresails to stabilize her bearing was now yawing and began to lose ground, allowing the Belvidera to escape and return to Halifax, taking with her the news of the declaration of war.
Rodger's squadron patrolled the waters off the American upper east coast until the end of August in 1812, and commanded the President for most of the war, capturing 23 prizes. On land, Rodgers rendered valuable service defending Baltimore during the British attack on Fort McHenry
and when Washington was invaded.
Rodgers home town at Havre de Grace
was directly effected by the war. In 1813 during his third cruise of the war his home was plundered and then burned by British marines led by Admiral Cockburn with its valuables stolen or destroyed in the fire. Rodgers' mother, wife and two sisters were forced to flee to a friend's house not far from the village. In little time the British made their way to this house also with orders to destroy it as was so with all such dwellings in the area. Rodgers' sister, Mrs. Goldsborough, pleaded with the officer in charge of the detail, begging him to forego the destruction of their haven for the sake of their aging mother. The officer maintained that he was under strict orders and would have to obtain the consent of his commanding officer, whereupon Mrs. Goldsborough returned with the officer to again plead her case. The commanding officer agreed to spare the house, but by the time they had returned it had already been set ablaze, however the fire had not yet taken hold and upon hearing the news that the house was to be spared the British marines through frantic efforts were able to put out the flames in time and saved the house from complete ruin.
In April of 1814 Rodgers returned to Havre de Grace where he received orders to take command of USS Guerriere
at Philaelphia, so named after the captured prize of Isaac Hull, and bearing 53 guns. Early in May of that year he had replaced the senior officer of the Navy, Commodore Alexander Murray, as commander of the Delaware squadron. Rodgers then ordered Lieutenant Charles Morgan
to take charge of the squadron to reorganize it, giving him specific instructions regarding the outfitting of the ships with armament and the drilling of its use which was to be performed daily. Finally on June 20, 1814, the Guerriere was launched with a crew of 200 men, while more than fifty thousand spectators gathered on the shores of the Delaware
and in small boats to witness the occasion. During that summer Rodgers spent most of his time at Philadelphia's naval yard outfitting this ship. The Delaware squadron also comprised some 20 gunboats, sloops and galleys and was one among several fleets assigned to patrol the chief ports along the upper Atlantic coastline.
See main Article: War of 1812
Commodore John Rodgers played a major role in the recapture of Washington after it had been burned in 1814 by the invading British. As a Navy veteran he was generally unaccustomed to the ways of deployment in land battle, yet he restored order after the invasion of Washington, coordinated efforts between the infantry and Secretary of the Navy William Jones
, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
and Commodore David Porter
forcing the early retreat of the British.
In the spring of 1814 the American naval forces in the Chesapeake Bay
consisted mainly of a fleet of gunboats under the command of Commodore Joshua Barney
, a veteran of the American Revolution
. On August 20, a fleet commanded by British Rear-Admiral Cockburn sailed up the Patuxent River
searching for Barney's flotilla while British troops marched in the same direction along its shore. On August 19th Naval Secretary Jones responded by ordering Commodores Rodgers in Philadelphia and Porter in New York to proceed towards Washington with several detachments of sailors and Marines. The orders were dispatched by mail but did not reach Philadelphia until ten o'clock the morning of the 22nd. As Rodgers was at Reedy Island
on the Delaware River
inspecting the flotilla he did not receive the Secretary's orders until he returned at eleven o'clock that evening -- thirteen hours later. Upon receiving the dispatch Rodgers immediately made preparations to march towards Baltimore
. The navy secretary, not knowing that his initial orders had reached Rodgers later than he had figured, expected Rodgers to be at his designated station by the evening of the 23rd, and had sent him follow up orders that morning directing Rodgers to Bladensburg, Maryland
five miles north-east of Washington. Consequently Rodgers didn't receive his orders until it was too late to execute them.
By August 24, Admiral Cockburn's forces had already moved up the Patuxent, forcing Barney to burn and abandoned his flotilla, and then with the area secured advanced on Washington. That afternoon Cockburn's forces defeated the American troops under General Winder
and Commodore Barney at Bladensburg and by 8 o'clock that evening entered Washington. Within twenty four hours under the direct supervision of Admiral Cockburn, the capitol and other buildings were in flames. With the American forces defeated and in retreat President Madison
and Secretary Jones had fled the capitol and made their way up the Potomac river and remained in hiding in the countryside. Rodgers then proceeded to Baltimore arriving on the 25th. The citizens there were now in a panic fearing their city would suffer the same fate that had just befallen Washington. In the panic the Americans burned the Columbia and the Argus which were nearby ready for service. Upon Rodgers' arrival he immediately took up preparing defensive measures about the area, the actions of which restored order and calm among the citizenry, and with their courage somewhat restored, Rodgers combined his command with that of Porter's and secured a small flotilla on the Patapsco River, which flowed south-east into the bay at Baltimore. With a force of some one thousand sailors and marines Rodgers set up defenses about Washington, and divided this force into two regiments, placing one under the command of Porter, with the other under the command of Oliver Hazard Perry
who had already been stationed there in Baltimore.
In the meantime President Madison and the Secretary returned to Washington, but by August 27, the British under the command of Captain James Gordon advanced on the capitol a second time, making their approach by way of the Potomac River
with two frigates and a number of smaller vessels, reaching Fort Washington
, twelve miles down river from the capitol. The fort was immediately abandoned when fired upon while the American forces retreated to Alexandria
, five miles up river, just seven miles outside of Washington. In a state By August 29, Gordon advanced on and captured this town and port, seizing all supplies which were then loaded on to the invading vessels. Upon receiving orders to join Admiral Cockburn he sailed down river but was delayed due to adverse winds near Fort Washington. Fearing the British had further designs on the capitol Secretary Jones began preparing defensive forces. On August 29, he gave Rodgers orders to proceed to Bladensburg from Baltimore
with 650 seaman and Marines. The day before Rodgers ordered Porter to Washington, arriving August 30, with 100 seaman for the purposes of guarding the capitol. The next day Rodgers and Porter together arrived at Bladensburg where Rodgers met up with Secretary Jones. As the American forces were now regrouped and in strong defensive positions, it prompted the British to make their retreat. At this point the three Commodores began harassing the retreating British forces where Rodgers began attacking the British fleet with fireships. Rodgers had previously improved and improvised his fireships at the Washington naval yard beforehand. On September 3, he proceeded down the Potomac in a Gig
closely followed by his fireships and barges, the latter being manned with 60 marines armed with muskets and swords. When they reached Alexandria Rodgers entered the abandoned town and ordered the American flag hoisted.
Other battles followed with the British attempting to mount counter offensives on the Potomac and at Baltimore, but were ultimately defeated largely through the efforts of Rodgers and Porter.
The burning of Washington shocked the nation and was denounced by most of the continent of Europe. According to the The Annual Register, it had "..brought a heavy censure on the British character..", with some members of Parliament
joining in the criticism. However most of Britain felt it was justified for American incursions into Canada and because it was the United States who had declared and initiated the war.
See main Article: Burning of Washington
. Rodgers was a prolific political writer whose writings appealed to President Madison
, leading him, with the recommendation of the Senate, to appointing Rodgers to the Board of Navy Commissioners
, along with Isaac Hull
and David Porter
. Rodgers headed the Board from 1815-1824 and again in 1827 until he retired in May of 1837. Rodgers also served briefly as Secretary of the Navy in 1823.
, who counted among their members former presidents Andrew Jackson
and John Quincy Adams
and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions.
. On advice that his condition would benefit from a leave of absence he was persuaded to take a trip across the Atlantic to England. Rodgers subsequently resigned his commission with the blessing of President Jackson
and the Secretary
of the Navy. On May 10 he sailed for London
, embarking from New York on a packet ship
, the Montreal and spent several weeks in that city. He also visited the towns of Plymouth and Portsmouth and was escorted and given much attention by the Admiralty of the Royal Navy
and other notable people. He was the guest of two close friends, Admiral Sir James and Lady Hillyarm who were present at the Mediterranean Station while Rodgers was serving there dealing with the piracy of the Barbary states.
Late in August of 1837 Rodgers returned to the United States with little improvement in his health. He remained at his home at Lafayaette Square in Washington for several weeks, but with his health now steadily declining again he was placed in the care of the naval asylum at Philadelphia under the care of a naval doctor and friend, a Dr. Thomas Harris. His wife took up residence in a boarding house nearby. Soon his already frail condition began to rapidly worsen and when it was certain his death was imminent his wife was sent for, but Rodgers had already lapsed into unconsciousness by the time she arrived at his bedside. Rodger's last words were spoken to his butler and close friend asking, "...do you know the Lord's Prayer?" His butler replied "yes, master." -- Rodgers replied, "Then repeat it for me". Rodgers died in the arms of his butler on August 1, 1838 at the age of 66.
Rodgers was buriend in the family burial site in the Congressional Cemetery at Washington, his grave marked by a pyramidal shaped sandstone monument which today also bears the names of his wife, Minerva Denison, his son Frederick, and two daughters who were also laid to rest here in later years.
Commodore Rodgers established a naval "dynasty" that produced several other notable officers. His son John Rodgers
(1812–1882) served in the American Civil War
, and his great-grandson John Rodgers
(1881–1926) served in World War I
.
Six ships have been named in their honor, three as and three as .
Louisa, daughter of Commodore Rodgers, was married to Union General Montgomery C. Meigs
; their son John Rodgers Meigs
was killed in the Civil War in 1864. (General Meigs was a great grandson of Continental Army
Colonel Return J. Meigs, Sr.
).
His home, Sion Hill
, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1990, and designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1992.
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 Barbary Wars
Barbary Wars
The Barbary Wars were a series of wars between the United States of America and the Barbary States of North Africa in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At issue was the Barbary pirates' demand of tribute from American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. If ships failed to pay, pirates...
in North Africa and 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...
with Britain. As a senior officer in the young American navy he played a major role in the development of the standards, customs and traditions that emerged during this time. Rodgers was, among other incidents, noted for commanding the largest American squadron in his day to sail the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. After serving with distinction as a Lieutenant he was soon promoted directly to the rank of captain (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...
did not exist at that time). During his naval career he commanded a number of navy ships, including the USS John Adams
USS John Adams
Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS John Adams, in honor of John Adams, the second president of the United States: was a frigate, launched in 1799 and sold in 1867...
, the flagship of the fleet that defeated the Barbary states of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. During the War of 1812 Rogers fired the first shot of the war aboard his next flagship, the USS President, and also played a leading role in the recapture of Washington after the capitol was burned by the British, while also having to endure his own hometown and house burned and his family displaced. Later in his career he headed the Navy Board of Commissioners and served briefly as Secretary of the Navy. Following in his footsteps, Rodgers' son and several grandsons and great-grandsons also became Commodores and Admirals in the United States Navy
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...
.
Early life
Many of Rodgers' family emigrated to America from the British Isles in the years prior to the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Rodgers' father, Colonel John Rodgers, was born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1726 and was a proponent of the patriot cause. He emigrated to America and married Elizabeth Reynolds from Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
in 1760. Born in 1742, she was also of Scottish ancestry. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters, of which John Rodgers was among the oldest Rodgers was born in 1772 on a farm in a village near the Susquehanna Ferry where he was raised for the first thirteen years of his childhood. This village was named 'Havre de Grace' by Lafayette after a famous port of the same name in France while Rodgers was still a youth. The young Rodgers was an unusually strong and vital boy who spent much of his time fishing in the waters of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
and Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
near his home. He attended school in this local and was given to reading many books about seafaring life which fostered his love for ships and the sea. He had often seen schooner-rigged ships berthed at Havre de Grace but longed to see the large square-rigged vessels he had always read about. With a strong desire to see such ships he decided to go to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and, not revealing this desire to anyone, made his way to this city on his own accord on foot. Upon realizing that his son John was missing, Rodgers father, Colonel Rodgers, set out on horseback and came upon his son just as he was entering the city, insisting that his son return home to the family. But Rodgers, now in his mid-teens and with Baltimore now in sight, ardently refused. Realizing his son had his heart set on seeing the large seagoing ships berthed at Baltimore and wanting to go to sea, his father compromised with the determined youth and arranged his son's apprenticeship with Captain Benjamin Folger, a master ship builder of Baltimore, a veteran of the American revolution having served aboard merchant ships, and as commander of the Felicity, the ship used in the capture of the notorious privateer 'Jack-o-the-Lantern'. By the time the young Rodgers had joined him he was captain of his own ship the Maryland. The young Rodgers was put up on board a ship where he would remain on for the five years of his apprenticeship. Upon bidding his son farewell Colonel Rodgers requested that he never indulge in strong drink, and to this request the younger Rodgers promised, and kept his word. In adult life Rodgers did not indulge in spirituous drink.
First command
At the age of seventeen Captain Folger made Rodgers First Mate of the merchant ship Harmony. By the time Rodgers completed his five years of apprenticeship in 1793 Folger highly recommended him for command on a merchant ship regularly employed in the European trade called the Jane, owned by the prominent Baltimore merchants Samuel and John Smith. Rodgers served as the captain of this ship between four and five years, sailing out of Baltimore for various ports in Europe. His first voyage took him to the Spanish port at CadizCádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
in the early months of 1793, returning home with a load of salt. Rodgers' next voyage brought him to Hamburg, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
but due to severe winter conditions on the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
he was forced to put up in England for the winter and didn't reach his destination until the spring of next year. In September of 1795 he departed for Baltimore from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
arriving home after a long passage that consumed three months. There were many events during this time of Rodgers' life that have been lost to history, however many of them can be ascertained from the logbooks of the Jane covering the period of July-August of 1796 during her homeward bound voyage from Liverpool, a time when France and England were still at war. It was aboard the Jane where Rodgers mastered the art of ship's command, the exploits of which came natural to him.
While in command of the Jane, Rodgers' strong and determined character was once made plainly evident during one of his voyages navigating the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. Adverse winter winds had carried the vessel off course, the ship's provisions were almost exhausted and three of his crewmen had frozen to death in one night, while most of the others had lapsed into hopeless despair. When Rodgers ordered some of the crew to go aloft to secure the ice encrusted rigging they refused. Outraged at their desolation Rodgers stripped off his jacket and shirt and before going aloft told the insubordinate crew to watch what a man could do. While climbing the frozen rigging bare-chested the crew, awe
Awe
Awe is an emotion comparable to wonder but less joyous, and more fearful or respectful. Awe is defined in Robert Plutchik's Wheel of emotions as a combination of surprise and fear...
struck, immediately rose to his aid and in little time they had secured the faltering rigging. Under the grim circumstances of their situation Rodgers put the matter behind him and days later they returned safely to port.
Family
Rodgers was married in 1806 to Minerva Denison and had three sons, Robert, Frederick and John and two daughters. His son, John Rodgers Jr., was born in Maryland in 1812, and entered the U.S. Navy as a MidshipmanMidshipman
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...
serving aboard the Constellation
USS Constellation (1797)
USS Constellation was a 38-gun frigate, one of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. She was distinguished as the first U.S. Navy vessel to put to sea and the first U.S. Navy vessel to engage and defeat an enemy vessel...
and the Concord
USS Concord (1828)
USS Concord was a wooden-hulled, three-masted Sloop-of-war of the United States Navy and was launched on 24 September 1828 from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. She was the first US Navy vessel to bear the name 'Concord' and was so named after the town of Concord for its role at the...
in the Mediterranean and later became a rear Admiral during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Rodgers also had several grandsons and great-grandsons who all became officers in the U.S. Navy.
Naval career
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...
extended through the Quasi War with France, the Barbary Wars
Barbary Wars
The Barbary Wars were a series of wars between the United States of America and the Barbary States of North Africa in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At issue was the Barbary pirates' demand of tribute from American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. If ships failed to pay, pirates...
in North Africa and through 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...
. In 1815 he was appointed to the Board of Naval Commissioners, serving through 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...
until he retired in 1837.
Quasi War
On March 8, 1798 President John AdamsJohn Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
appointed junior officers for the first three ships constructed for the young American Navy where John Rodgers was appointed 2nd Lieutenant of the 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"...
USS Constellation
USS Constellation (1797)
USS Constellation was a 38-gun frigate, one of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. She was distinguished as the first U.S. Navy vessel to put to sea and the first U.S. Navy vessel to engage and defeat an enemy vessel...
, under the command of Thomas Truxtun
Thomas Truxtun
Thomas Truxtun was an American naval officer who rose to the rank of commodore.Born near Hempstead, New York on Long Island, Truxtun had little formal education before joining the crew of the British merchant ship Pitt at the age of twelve...
. All of these officers were expeditiously confirmed by the Senate the next day. He helped capture the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
frigate Insurgent
USS Insurgent (1799)
The Insurgente was a 32-gun Sémillante class frigate of the French Navy. She was captured during the Quasi-War and then purchased by the United States Navy as USS Insurgent....
during Constellation's engagement
Action of 9 February 1799
The USS Constellation vs L'Insurgente, or the Action of 9 February 1799, was the first United States naval victory against a foreign naval vessel...
with her on February 9, 1799, and was given command of her as prize master, along with Midshipman Porter and eleven seamen, to which the task of guarding more than 160 prisoners was also given. That evening gale force winds set in separating the two ships, which left Rodgers, Porter and the few seamen aboard the Insurgent to guard the prisoners without the support of the crew from the Constellation nearby. Just before surrendering their ship the crew had thrown overboard the gratings to the hold along with handcuffs and other items used to secure prisoners. Greatly outnumbered, Rodgers, seized all weapons and ordered the prisoners to the lower hold, giving orders to open fire with blunderbusses
Blunderbuss
The blunderbuss is a muzzle-loading firearm with a short, large caliber barrel, which is flared at the muzzle and frequently throughout the entire bore, and used with shot and other projectiles of relevant quantity and/or caliber. The blunderbuss could be considered to be an early form of shotgun,...
should the prisoners try to breach the passage way to their hold. After guarding the prisoners and navigating the captured vessel for two days and three nights through stormy winter weather Rogers arrived at Bassettere, Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
, on February 13th. At this time Britain and France were still at war so the inhabitants of the British colony were delighted to see the French vessel arriving in American hands. For their effort the British commander-in-chief of St. Kitts sent Truxtun a letter of congratulations and offered him every service within his command. The two ships were then refitted and supplied while the Insurgent received a new crew. On March 5, 1799 Rodgers was promoted to Captain and received written orders to take command of the captured ship.
In June of 1799 Rodgers relinquished command of the Insurgent
USS Insurgent (1799)
The Insurgente was a 32-gun Sémillante class frigate of the French Navy. She was captured during the Quasi-War and then purchased by the United States Navy as USS Insurgent....
, then at Norfolk, Virginia, receiving a letter from Secretary of the Navy Stoddert
Benjamin Stoddert
Benjamin Stoddert was the first United States Secretary of the Navy from May 1, 1798 to March 31, 1801.-Early life:...
ordering him to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
to supervise the outfitting of the USS Maryland
USS Maryland (1799)
The first USS Maryland was a sloop in the United States Navy. She served during the Quasi-War with France.Maryland was built by public subscription in Baltimore under the Act of 30 June 1798; launched at Price Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland, 3 June 1799; and accepted by the Navy in August 1799, Capt...
, a Sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
bearing 20 guns, and then to take command of that ship. Three months later he took command of the Maryland. In March 1801, he delivered the ratified Convention of 1800 (Treaty of Mortefontaine)
Convention of 1800 (Treaty of Mortefontaine)
The Convention of 1800, , also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine, was a treaty between the United States of America and France to settle the hostilities that had erupted during the Quasi-War...
, which ended 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...
, to France.
First Barbary War
USS John Adams (1799)
The first John Adams was originally built as a frigate in 1799, converted to a corvette in 1809 and later converted back to a frigate in 1830 for use in the United States Navy...
on May 3 of the following year, Rodgers was ordered to sail for 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...
to patrol its surrounding waters for three weeks, joining the Constitution the President along with a number of other vessels. Upon his arrival he immediately approached the fortifications and batteries of Tripoli and engaged the gunboats and batteries defending the city. During this time he also pursued and boarded several neutral ships attempting to bring grain and other supplies to Tripoli, the inhabitants of which were now facing starvation and other indemnities because of the blockade. After twelve days he encountered the Tripolian vessel Meshouda
Mashouda
The Mashouda or Mashuda was the Algerian fleet flagship during the Second Barbary War. It was captured by Stephen Decatur, leading to a favorable American position from which to bargain with the Dey of Algiers....
, bearing 20 guns, which he engaged and captured. The Tripolian vessel was previously blockaded at Gibraltar and had been carrying a load of military supplies to Tripoli. His brilliant record fighting the corsairs won him appointment as Commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron in May 1805. Since Commodore Barron's
James Barron
James Barron was an officer in the United States Navy. Commander of the frigate USS Chesapeake, he was court-martialed for his actions on 22 June 1807, which led to the surrender of his ship to the British....
health at this time had deteriorated it was practically impossible for him to maintain command of the squadron. Rodgers accordingly relinquished command of the squadron upon receiving a letter dispatched to him by the Essex on May 22. Consisting of the ships, Constitution, President, Constellation, Enterprise, Essex, Siren, Argus, Hornet, Vixen, Nautilus and Franklin, together with a number of gunboats
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:...
(including No. 5
HMS Ambush (1814)
HMS Ambush, or Ambush No. 5, was the American Gunboat No. 5 , launched in 1805. She served in the Mediterranean later that year. The Royal Navy captured her at the Battle of Lake Borgne on 14 December 1814. She was sold in 1815....
, and bomb vessel
Bomb vessel
A bomb vessel, bomb ship, bomb ketch, or simply bomb was a type of wooden sailing naval ship. Its primary armament was not cannon —although bomb vessels carried a few cannon for self-defence—but rather mortars mounted forward near the bow and elevated to a high angle, and projecting their fire in a...
, Rodgers was now in command of the largest American squadron ever to assemble in the Mediterranean. The blockading force was so overwhelming that, after much deliberation and appeal from the Dey
Dey
Dey was the title given to the rulers of the Regency of Algiers and Tripoli under the Ottoman Empire from 1671 onwards...
, a peace treaty was finally negotiated by the end of July.
When news of the treaty reached Washington in the fall of 1805, President Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
ordered all of the ships home with the exception of a frigate and two smaller supporting vessels. Before returning home, Rodgers sailed to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Syracuse to close down military hospitals and settle accounts. He then stopped at Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
and paid a visit to the Dey, who by now was well aware of the treaty with Tripoli, and subsequently extended every courtesy to Rodgers and even consented to him donning his sword. Rodgers in a letter to the Secretary
Benjamin Stoddert
Benjamin Stoddert was the first United States Secretary of the Navy from May 1, 1798 to March 31, 1801.-Early life:...
of the Navy later wrote.. "I am the first Christian that has ever been permitted to visit the Dey of Algiers with sidearms..."
Other service
A year later, he returned to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to take command of the New York Flotilla. After the Embargo Act
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 and the subsequent Nonintercourse Acts were American laws restricting American ships from engaging in foreign trade between the years of 1807 and 1812. The Acts were diplomatic responses by presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison designed to protect American interests...
was passed at the close of 1807, Rodgers commanded operations along the Atlantic coast enforcing its provisions.
At the outbreak of 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...
the American navy was not fully prepared to deal with Britain's large and formidable navy with its hundreds of ships and seasoned commanders and crews, many of whom were already experienced and battle hardened from the Napoleonic wars with France. In 1811, he was in command as Commodore of the off Annapolis when he heard that an American seaman had been "impressed
Impressment
Impressment, colloquially, "the Press", was the act of taking men into a navy by force and without notice. It was used by the Royal Navy, beginning in 1664 and during the 18th and early 19th centuries, in wartime, as a means of crewing warships, although legal sanction for the practice goes back to...
" by a British frigate off Sandy Hook, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Commodore Rodgers was ordered to sea to "protect American commerce", but he may have had verbal instructions to retaliate for the impressment of British subjects out of American vessels, which was causing much ill-feeling and was a main cause of 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...
.
Early in 1811, Secretary of the Navy, Hamilton
Paul Hamilton
Paul Hamilton was the 3rd United States Secretary of the Navy, from 1809 to 1813.Paul Hamilton was born in Saint Paul's Parish, South Carolina, on October 16, 1762. He left school at the age of sixteen due to financial problems...
, had ordered the USS President and the USS Argus on patrol duty along the Atlantic coast from the Carolinas to New York. Commodore John Rodgers was in command of President. On May 16, 1811, he sighted and followed the British sloop off the coast of North Carolina, commanded by Arthur Bingham
Arthur Bingham
Arthur Batt Bingham was an officer in the Royal Navy, rising to the rank of post captain. He is remembered chiefly for his command of HMS Little Belt, when the Little Belt Affair occurred, just prior to the War of 1812.-Family and early life:...
, thinking it to be HMS Gurreiere. After some hailing and counterhailing, of which very different versions
Little Belt Affair
The Little Belt Affair was a naval battle on the night of May 16, 1811. It involved the United States frigate USS President and the British sixth-rate HMS Little Belt, a sloop-of-war, which had originally been the Danish ship Lillebælt, before being captured by the British in the 1807 Battle of...
are given on either side,
a gun was fired, each side accusing the other of the first shot. Rodgers continued to engage the much smaller vessel and after several more broadsides from President, bearing 44 guns, the Little Belt, with only 20, was cut to pieces. The Little Belt lost 13 men killed, including a Midshipman and a lieutenant, and 19 wounded, while the President incurred only one wounded. The incident came to be known as the Little Belt Affair
Little Belt Affair
The Little Belt Affair was a naval battle on the night of May 16, 1811. It involved the United States frigate USS President and the British sixth-rate HMS Little Belt, a sloop-of-war, which had originally been the Danish ship Lillebælt, before being captured by the British in the 1807 Battle of...
. It was one among many mishaps between America and Britain that led to 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...
.
War of 1812
When the United States declared war against BritainUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
on June 18, 1812, the American navy was not fully prepared to engage its massive and formidable Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
with its seasoned commanders and crews. Many of the American ships were lacking crews and in need of repairs while others were still away at sea. The only ships available for service at this time were berthed at New York, under the command of Commodore John Rodgers. These were Rodgers' own flagship, the President
USS President (1800)
USS President was a nominally rated 44-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was named by George Washington to reflect a principle of the United States Constitution. Forman Cheeseman was in charge of her construction, and she was launched in April 1800 from a...
, along with the United States
USS United States
USS United States may refer to:, was one of the original six frigates that served from 1798 until 1865, was a Lexington-class battle cruiser, that was canceled and scrapped when the vessel was only 12 percent complete....
, commanded by Commodore 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...
, the Congress
USS Congress
USS Congress may refer to:, was a galley built on Lake Champlain, which served as flagship in the Battle of Valcour Island, was a 28-gun frigate built under authority of an act of the Second Continental Congress dated 13 December 1775, was a 38-gun sailing frigate launched in 1799 and in service...
, commanded by Captain Smith, the Hornet
USS Hornet
Eight ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Hornet, after the stinging insect., was a ten-gun sloop commissioned in 1775, and served in the American Revolutionary War, was also a ten-gun sloop and took part in the First Barbary War, was a brig-rigged sloop of war launched on 28 July...
, commanded by Captain Lawrence
James Lawrence
James Lawrence was an American naval officer. During the War of 1812, he commanded the USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against HMS Shannon...
and the Argus
USS Argus
USS Argus may refer to one of these United States Navy ships:, a brig during the War of 1812.* An Argus , was laid down at the Washington Navy Yard and was still on the ways when the British advanced on the National Capital late in the summer of 1814. To prevent her capture, she was burned on 24...
commanded by Lieutenant Sinclair
Arthur Sinclair
Commodore Arthur Sinclair was an early American naval hero, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War and in the War of 1812...
. However, the British vessels in American waters at this time were relatively few in number and not themselves very representative of the overall might of the Royal Navy.
As soon as Rodgers received news of the declaration of war, fearing that the order to confine naval ships to port would be reconsidered by Congress, he departed New York harbor with his squadron within the hour. In anticipation of the war, Rodgers had already had his squadron fitted and ready to embark on the high seas. Their first objective was a British fleet reported to have recently departed from the West Indies and immediately set a course south-east in search of these ships. The President passed Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook is a barrier spit along the Atlantic coast of New JerseySandy Hook may also refer to:-Places:United States* Sandy Hook , a village in the town of Newtown, Connecticut* Sandy Hook, Kentucky, a city in Elliott County...
on June 21. In the early morning of the 23rd a ship was spotted on the horizon to the north-east which turned out to be the frigate, HMS Belvidera
HMS Belvidera (1809)
HMS Belvidera was a 36-gun Royal Navy Apollo-class fifth-rate frigate built in Deptford in 1809. She saw action in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 and continued a busy career at sea into the middle of the 19th century...
, commanded by Captain Richard Byron, whereupon Rodgers immediately gave chase, with the Congress following close behind. The Belvidera had already been informed of the inevitability of war by a passing New York pilot boat
Pilot boat
A Pilot Boat is a type of boat used to transport pilots between land and the inbound or outbound ships that they are piloting.-History:The origins of the word pilot probably disseminates from the Latin word pilota, a variation of pedota, the plural of pēdón which translates as oar...
and herself immediately turned about, crowded on all sails and began flight to the north-east with a fresh wind behind all ships coming from the west.
The USS President was an unusually fast frigate and by noon had gained on the Belvidera, now only some two and a half miles distant, approximately 75 miles south-west of Nantucket island. While the President was closing its distance with Belvidera Captain Byron began clearing the decks and preparing for action and made ready his stern guns. By 4:30 the wind had relaxed some but the Belvidera was now close enough to be engaged. Seizing this first and tenuous possibility, the President's forecastle bow chasers
Chase gun
The chase guns, usually distinguished as bow chasers and stern chasers were cannons mounted in the bow or stern of a sailing ship...
fired the first shot of the war, by Rodgers himself, with two more almost immediately following.
All three shots struck Belvidera at her stern, striking the rudder assembly and captain's quarters, killing or wounding nine men. With only a few more shots needed to disable the British vessel the President fired again, but the tide of battle turned when its gun burst, killing 16 men, wounding others, including Rodgers who was violently thrown back with his leg broken from the impact. There was a pause of panic about the entire ship, as now every gun was suspected. Byron seized the opportunity and fired his stern chasers, killing yet another six men. The Belvidera continued a brisk fire, causing damage to the rigging and foresails. The President continued chase but without adequate foresails to stabilize her bearing was now yawing and began to lose ground, allowing the Belvidera to escape and return to Halifax, taking with her the news of the declaration of war.
Rodger's squadron patrolled the waters off the American upper east coast until the end of August in 1812, and commanded the President for most of the war, capturing 23 prizes. On land, Rodgers rendered valuable service defending Baltimore during the British attack on Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
and when Washington was invaded.
Rodgers home town at Havre de Grace
Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which was first named Le Havre de Grâce, meaning in French "Harbor of Grace." As...
was directly effected by the war. In 1813 during his third cruise of the war his home was plundered and then burned by British marines led by Admiral Cockburn with its valuables stolen or destroyed in the fire. Rodgers' mother, wife and two sisters were forced to flee to a friend's house not far from the village. In little time the British made their way to this house also with orders to destroy it as was so with all such dwellings in the area. Rodgers' sister, Mrs. Goldsborough, pleaded with the officer in charge of the detail, begging him to forego the destruction of their haven for the sake of their aging mother. The officer maintained that he was under strict orders and would have to obtain the consent of his commanding officer, whereupon Mrs. Goldsborough returned with the officer to again plead her case. The commanding officer agreed to spare the house, but by the time they had returned it had already been set ablaze, however the fire had not yet taken hold and upon hearing the news that the house was to be spared the British marines through frantic efforts were able to put out the flames in time and saved the house from complete ruin.
In April of 1814 Rodgers returned to Havre de Grace where he received orders to take command of USS Guerriere
USS Guerriere (1814)
The first USS Guerriere was the first frigate built in the United States since 1801. The name came from a fast 49-gun British frigate captured and destroyed in a half-hour battle by 19 August 1812. This victory was the United States' first success in the War of 1812.She was built at the...
at Philaelphia, so named after the captured prize of Isaac Hull, and bearing 53 guns. Early in May of that year he had replaced the senior officer of the Navy, Commodore Alexander Murray, as commander of the Delaware squadron. Rodgers then ordered Lieutenant Charles Morgan
Charles W. Morgan (naval officer)
Commodore Charles W. Morgan was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.-Biography:Born in Virginia, Morgan served during the War of 1812 as a lieutenant on the Constitution during her battle with the and also served aboard the Franklin...
to take charge of the squadron to reorganize it, giving him specific instructions regarding the outfitting of the ships with armament and the drilling of its use which was to be performed daily. Finally on June 20, 1814, the Guerriere was launched with a crew of 200 men, while more than fifty thousand spectators gathered on the shores of the Delaware
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...
and in small boats to witness the occasion. During that summer Rodgers spent most of his time at Philadelphia's naval yard outfitting this ship. The Delaware squadron also comprised some 20 gunboats, sloops and galleys and was one among several fleets assigned to patrol the chief ports along the upper Atlantic coastline.
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...
Burning of Washington
William Jones (statesman)
William Jones was an American politician.Jones was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1760. Apprenticed in a shipyard, during the American War of Independence he saw combat in the battles of Trenton and Princeton and later served at sea. In the decades that followed the war, he was a successful...
, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
and Commodore David Porter
David Porter (naval officer)
David Porter was an officer in the United States Navy in a rank of commodore and later the commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy.-Life:...
forcing the early retreat of the British.
In the spring of 1814 the American naval forces in the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
consisted mainly of a fleet of gunboats under the command of Commodore Joshua Barney
Joshua Barney
Joshua Barney was a commodore in the United States Navy, born in Baltimore, Maryland, who served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.-Revolutionary War:...
, a veteran of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. On August 20, a fleet commanded by British Rear-Admiral Cockburn sailed up the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
searching for Barney's flotilla while British troops marched in the same direction along its shore. On August 19th Naval Secretary Jones responded by ordering Commodores Rodgers in Philadelphia and Porter in New York to proceed towards Washington with several detachments of sailors and Marines. The orders were dispatched by mail but did not reach Philadelphia until ten o'clock the morning of the 22nd. As Rodgers was at Reedy Island
Reedy Island
Reedy Island is a small island in the middle of the channel of the Delaware River near its mouth on Delaware Bay in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is located approximately 1 mi east of Port Penn, Delaware and 5 mi southwest of Salem, New Jersey.The island was the location of Reedy...
on 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...
inspecting the flotilla he did not receive the Secretary's orders until he returned at eleven o'clock that evening -- thirteen hours later. Upon receiving the dispatch Rodgers immediately made preparations to march towards Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. The navy secretary, not knowing that his initial orders had reached Rodgers later than he had figured, expected Rodgers to be at his designated station by the evening of the 23rd, and had sent him follow up orders that morning directing Rodgers to Bladensburg, Maryland
Bladensburg, Maryland
Bladensburg is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 7,661 at the 2000 census.Bladensburg is from central Washington, DC...
five miles north-east of Washington. Consequently Rodgers didn't receive his orders until it was too late to execute them.
By August 24, Admiral Cockburn's forces had already moved up the Patuxent, forcing Barney to burn and abandoned his flotilla, and then with the area secured advanced on Washington. That afternoon Cockburn's forces defeated the American troops under General Winder
William H. Winder
William Henry Winder was an American soldier and a Maryland lawyer. He was a controversial general in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812....
and Commodore Barney at Bladensburg and by 8 o'clock that evening entered Washington. Within twenty four hours under the direct supervision of Admiral Cockburn, the capitol and other buildings were in flames. With the American forces defeated and in retreat President Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
and Secretary Jones had fled the capitol and made their way up the Potomac river and remained in hiding in the countryside. Rodgers then proceeded to Baltimore arriving on the 25th. The citizens there were now in a panic fearing their city would suffer the same fate that had just befallen Washington. In the panic the Americans burned the Columbia and the Argus which were nearby ready for service. Upon Rodgers' arrival he immediately took up preparing defensive measures about the area, the actions of which restored order and calm among the citizenry, and with their courage somewhat restored, Rodgers combined his command with that of Porter's and secured a small flotilla on the Patapsco River, which flowed south-east into the bay at Baltimore. With a force of some one thousand sailors and marines Rodgers set up defenses about Washington, and divided this force into two regiments, placing one under the command of Porter, with the other under the command of Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
who had already been stationed there in Baltimore.
In the meantime President Madison and the Secretary returned to Washington, but by August 27, the British under the command of Captain James Gordon advanced on the capitol a second time, making their approach by way of the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
with two frigates and a number of smaller vessels, reaching Fort Washington
Fort Washington, Maryland
Fort Washington, Maryland is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland in the suburbs of the capital city of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., south of the downtown district. It is a prosperous community with an African American majority...
, twelve miles down river from the capitol. The fort was immediately abandoned when fired upon while the American forces retreated to Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, five miles up river, just seven miles outside of Washington. In a state By August 29, Gordon advanced on and captured this town and port, seizing all supplies which were then loaded on to the invading vessels. Upon receiving orders to join Admiral Cockburn he sailed down river but was delayed due to adverse winds near Fort Washington. Fearing the British had further designs on the capitol Secretary Jones began preparing defensive forces. On August 29, he gave Rodgers orders to proceed to Bladensburg from Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
with 650 seaman and Marines. The day before Rodgers ordered Porter to Washington, arriving August 30, with 100 seaman for the purposes of guarding the capitol. The next day Rodgers and Porter together arrived at Bladensburg where Rodgers met up with Secretary Jones. As the American forces were now regrouped and in strong defensive positions, it prompted the British to make their retreat. At this point the three Commodores began harassing the retreating British forces where Rodgers began attacking the British fleet with fireships. Rodgers had previously improved and improvised his fireships at the Washington naval yard beforehand. On September 3, he proceeded down the Potomac in a Gig
Gig
Gig or GIG may refer to:* Gig , live performance by a musician or other performer** Temporary work, by extension* Gig , 1993* Gig , 1992...
closely followed by his fireships and barges, the latter being manned with 60 marines armed with muskets and swords. When they reached Alexandria Rodgers entered the abandoned town and ordered the American flag hoisted.
Other battles followed with the British attempting to mount counter offensives on the Potomac and at Baltimore, but were ultimately defeated largely through the efforts of Rodgers and Porter.
The burning of Washington shocked the nation and was denounced by most of the continent of Europe. According to the The Annual Register, it had "..brought a heavy censure on the British character..", with some members of Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
joining in the criticism. However most of Britain felt it was justified for American incursions into Canada and because it was the United States who had declared and initiated the war.
Burning of Washington
The Burning of Washington was an armed conflict during the War of 1812 between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America. On August 24, 1814, led by General Robert Ross, a British force occupied Washington, D.C. and set fire to many public buildings following...
Later naval career
In 1815 after the War of 1812 had ended Congress established the Board of Navy CommissionersBoard of Navy Commissioners
The Board of Naval Commissioners was a United States Navy administrative body in existence from 1815 to 1842, with responsibility for the Navy's material support. The three-member Board was created as part of an expansion of the U.S. Navy Department at the end of the War of 1812. The system was...
. Rodgers was a prolific political writer whose writings appealed to President Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
, leading him, with the recommendation of the Senate, to appointing Rodgers to the Board of Navy Commissioners
Board of Navy Commissioners
The Board of Naval Commissioners was a United States Navy administrative body in existence from 1815 to 1842, with responsibility for the Navy's material support. The three-member Board was created as part of an expansion of the U.S. Navy Department at the end of the War of 1812. The system was...
, along with Isaac Hull
Isaac Hull
-External links:* *...
and David Porter
David Porter (naval officer)
David Porter was an officer in the United States Navy in a rank of commodore and later the commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy.-Life:...
. Rodgers headed the Board from 1815-1824 and again in 1827 until he retired in May of 1837. Rodgers also served briefly as Secretary of the Navy in 1823.
Societies
During the 1820s, Rodgers was a member of the prestigious society, Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and SciencesColumbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences
The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences was a literary and science institution in Washington, D.C., founded by Dr. Edward Cutbush , a naval surgeon...
, who counted among their members former presidents Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
and John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions.
Final years
Several years before Rodgers retired from the Board of Naval Commissioners his health began to decline, it is believed from a case of choleraCholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. On advice that his condition would benefit from a leave of absence he was persuaded to take a trip across the Atlantic to England. Rodgers subsequently resigned his commission with the blessing of President Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
and the Secretary
Mahlon Dickerson
Mahlon Dickerson was an American judge and politician. He was elected Governor of New Jersey as well as United States Senator from that state. He was twice appointed Secretary of the Navy - under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin van Buren...
of the Navy. On May 10 he sailed for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, embarking from New York on a packet ship
Packet ship
A "packet ship" was originally a vessel employed to carry post office mail packets to and from British embassies, colonies and outposts. In sea transport, a packet service is a regular, scheduled service, carrying freight and passengers...
, the Montreal and spent several weeks in that city. He also visited the towns of Plymouth and Portsmouth and was escorted and given much attention by the Admiralty of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and other notable people. He was the guest of two close friends, Admiral Sir James and Lady Hillyarm who were present at the Mediterranean Station while Rodgers was serving there dealing with the piracy of the Barbary states.
Late in August of 1837 Rodgers returned to the United States with little improvement in his health. He remained at his home at Lafayaette Square in Washington for several weeks, but with his health now steadily declining again he was placed in the care of the naval asylum at Philadelphia under the care of a naval doctor and friend, a Dr. Thomas Harris. His wife took up residence in a boarding house nearby. Soon his already frail condition began to rapidly worsen and when it was certain his death was imminent his wife was sent for, but Rodgers had already lapsed into unconsciousness by the time she arrived at his bedside. Rodger's last words were spoken to his butler and close friend asking, "...do you know the Lord's Prayer?" His butler replied "yes, master." -- Rodgers replied, "Then repeat it for me". Rodgers died in the arms of his butler on August 1, 1838 at the age of 66.
Rodgers was buriend in the family burial site in the Congressional Cemetery at Washington, his grave marked by a pyramidal shaped sandstone monument which today also bears the names of his wife, Minerva Denison, his son Frederick, and two daughters who were also laid to rest here in later years.
Influence and legacy
Commodore Rodgers established a naval "dynasty" that produced several other notable officers. His son John Rodgers
John Rodgers (naval officer, Civil War)
John Rodgers was an admiral in the United States Navy.-Early life and career:Rodgers, a son of Commodore John Rodgers, was born near Havre de Grace, Maryland. He received his appointment as a Midshipman in the Navy on 18 April 1828...
(1812–1882) served in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and his great-grandson John Rodgers
John Rodgers (naval officer, World War I)
John Rodgers was an officer in the United States Navy and an early aviator.-Biography:Rodgers was the great-grandson of Commodores Rodgers and Perry. He was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1903...
(1881–1926) served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Six ships have been named in their honor, three as and three as .
Louisa, daughter of Commodore Rodgers, was married to Union General Montgomery C. Meigs
Montgomery C. Meigs
Montgomery Cunningham Meigs was a career United States Army officer, civil engineer, construction engineer for a number of facilities in Washington, D.C., and Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army during and after the American Civil War....
; their son John Rodgers Meigs
John Rodgers Meigs
John Rodgers Meigs was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is most notable for controversy surrounding the circumstances of his death, which led to the burning of a large part of a Virginia town in retaliation.-Biography:Meigs was born in Washington, D.C., into a family...
was killed in the Civil War in 1864. (General Meigs was a great grandson of Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
Colonel Return J. Meigs, Sr.
Return J. Meigs, Sr.
Return Jonathan Meigs [born December 17 or December 28 , 1740; died January 28, 1823] was a colonel who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, was one of the founding settlers of the Northwest Territory in what is now the state of Ohio, and later served as a federal...
).
His home, Sion Hill
Sion Hill
Sion Hill is a National Historic Landmark in Havre de Grace, Maryland, notable as an example of high-style Federal architecture and as the home a family of prominent officers of the United States Navy....
, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1990, and designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1992.
See also
- List of United States Navy people
- List of sailing frigates of the United States Navy
- Raid on Havre de GraceRaid on Havre de GraceThe raid on Havre de Grace was a seaborne military operation that took place on 3 May 1813. A squadron of the British Royal Navy under Rear Admiral George Cockburn attacked the town of Havre de Grace, Maryland, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River...
- Chronology of the War of 1812Chronology of the War of 1812-Origins:-1812:-1813:-1814:-1815:-External links:********...
Further reading
External links
- The Rodgers Family Papers, containing military records and materials pertaining to his naval service, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
. - The John Rodgers papers, at the William L. Clements LibraryWilliam L. Clements LibraryThe William L. Clements Library is a rare book and manuscript repository located on the University of Michigan's central campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan...
contain professional letters and documents from throughout Rodger's naval career.