Pollard Hopewell
Encyclopedia
Pollard Hopewell was a midshipman in the United States Navy
during the War of 1812
. He was killed in the battle of the US frigate Chesapeake
with the British frigate Shannon
.
He was the only child of Pollard Hopewell and his wife, Catherine Hebb, who were married on December 19, 1785. Pollard, Jr. was born sometime between 1786 and 1789. He was orphaned at an early age. His father died in 1796 and his mother died on August 5, 1799. Pollard, Jr. was left in the care of his uncle, James Hopewell.
Hopewell entered the Navy as a Midshipman on 4 June 1812 from St. Mary's County, Maryland. He reported to the frigate
Chesapeake
on 21 August. With a new crew, Captain James Lawrence
put to sea to engage the British frigate HMS Shannon
on 1 June 1813. Despite their captain's famous cry, "Don't give up the ship", the crew was overwhelmed and the ship taken. Midshipman Hopewell was among those killed, as was Lawrence.
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...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He was killed in the battle of the US frigate Chesapeake
USS Chesapeake (1799)
USS Chesapeake was a 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was one of the original six frigates whose construction was authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young navy's capital ships...
with the British frigate Shannon
HMS Shannon (1806)
HMS Shannon was a 38-gun Leda-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1806 and served in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812...
.
He was the only child of Pollard Hopewell and his wife, Catherine Hebb, who were married on December 19, 1785. Pollard, Jr. was born sometime between 1786 and 1789. He was orphaned at an early age. His father died in 1796 and his mother died on August 5, 1799. Pollard, Jr. was left in the care of his uncle, James Hopewell.
Hopewell entered the Navy as a Midshipman on 4 June 1812 from St. Mary's County, Maryland. He reported to 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"...
Chesapeake
USS Chesapeake (1799)
USS Chesapeake was a 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was one of the original six frigates whose construction was authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young navy's capital ships...
on 21 August. With a new crew, Captain James 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...
put to sea to engage the British frigate HMS Shannon
HMS Shannon (1806)
HMS Shannon was a 38-gun Leda-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1806 and served in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812...
on 1 June 1813. Despite their captain's famous cry, "Don't give up the ship", the crew was overwhelmed and the ship taken. Midshipman Hopewell was among those killed, as was Lawrence.