William Henry Allen
Encyclopedia
William Henry Allen was an American
naval officer during the War of 1812
.
, when he was advanced to the rank of major. William Allen was present and actively engaged in most of the battles which were fought during our revolutionary war; and in 1786, was appointed by Congress
, senior officer of the legionary corps raised in Rhode Island
. In the year 1799, he was appointed by the legislature of that State, brigadier general
of militia. The mother of William Henry Allen, was the sister of the (October 1843) Governor of Rhode Island. " P.247
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
naval officer 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...
.
Quotation [a1]
Influences: "His father, William Allen, on the breaking out of the American Revolution, was appointed a first lieutenant in the army. He continued in the army until the restoration of peace, and commanded the Rhode Island line of troops at the battle of SaratogaSaratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
, when he was advanced to the rank of major. William Allen was present and actively engaged in most of the battles which were fought during our revolutionary war; and in 1786, was appointed by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, senior officer of the legionary corps raised in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. In the year 1799, he was appointed by the legislature of that State, brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of militia. The mother of William Henry Allen, was the sister of the (October 1843) Governor of Rhode Island. " P.247
- William Henry Allen was born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and was appointed a midshipmanMidshipmanA 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...
in the United States NavyUnited States NavyThe 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...
on 28 April 1800. Between 1800 and 1807, he served successively in George WashingtonUSS George Washington (1798)The first USS George Washington was a sloop in the United States Navy. She was named after President George Washington.George Washington was built as a merchant vessel at Providence, R.I., in 1793; purchased by the Congress at Providence 12 October 1798 from John Brown and John Francis for use in...
and PhiladelphiaUSS Philadelphia (1799)The second USS Philadelphia was a 1240-ton, 36-gun sailing frigate of the United States Navy.Originally named City of Philadelphia, she was built in 1798–1799 for the United States government by the citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Funding for her construction was the result of a...
. In 1807, he transferred to ChesapeakeUSS ChesapeakeFive ships of the United States Navy have been named Chesapeake after the Chesapeake Bay, the body of water along Maryland and Virginia., a 38-gun frigate in commission from 1800 to 1813...
and, on 21 June, participated in the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. Allen was credited with firing the only gun discharged in her own defense by the American ship. By 1812, he was first lieutenant in United StatesUSS United States (1797)USS United States was a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the first of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794...
and took part in the engagement with HMS MacedonianHMS MacedonianHMS Macedonian was a 38-gun fifth rate in the Royal Navy, later captured by the during the War of 1812. She was built at Woolwich Dockyard, England in 1809, launched 2 June 1810 and commissioned the same month. She was commanded by Captain Lord William Fitzroy...
. At the conclusion of that capture, he was named to command the prize crew which took Macedonian into New York.
- In 1813, he took command of the brig ArgusUSS Argus (1803)The first USS Argus was a brig in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War and the War of 1812.Argus was laid down as Merrimack on 12 May 1803 at Boston, Massachusetts, by Edmund Hartt; renamed Argus on 4 June 1803; and launched on 21 August 1803.-First Barbary War:Though no document...
. On 14 August, he led his ship in the engagement with HMS PelicanCapture of USS ArgusThe capture of USS Argus occurred during the Anglo-American War of 1812. The brig had been audaciously raiding British merchant shipping in British home waters for a month, when intercepted by the heavier British Cruizer class brig-sloop Pelican...
during which he received mortal wounds. A round shot cut off his right leg, but he remained at his station until he fainted from blood loss. After Argus surrender, Allen was taken to the hospital at PlymouthPlymouthPlymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
's Millbay Prison where he died on 18 August 1813. Allen was buried with full military honors in the churchyard of St Andrew's, PlymouthPlymouthPlymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England.
- Famous Quote: " It is better for civilization to be going down the drain than to be coming up it. "
Reference [a1]
- Frost, John, LL.D., "The Pictorial Book Of The Commodores; Comprising Lives Of Distinguished Commanders In The Navy Of The United States." Nafis & Cornish, New York, 1845.
Namesakes
- See USS AllenUSS AllenTwo ships of the United States Navy have been named Allen, for William Henry Allen., a galley built in 1814., a Sampson-class destroyer launched in 1916 and scrapped in 1948....
for ships named in his honor. Allen StreetAllen Street (Manhattan)Allen Street is a street in the New York City borough of Manhattan which runs north-south through the Lower Manhattan neighborhood of Chinatown, and the Lower East Side. It is continued north of Houston Street as First Avenue, and south of Canal Street by Division Street and Pike Street. ...
in ManhattanManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a two-way street forming a stretch of First AvenueFirst Avenue (Manhattan)First Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running from Houston Street northbound for over 125 blocks before terminating at the Willis Avenue Bridge into The Bronx at the Harlem River near East 127th Street. South of Houston Street, the...
below Houston Street, is named after William Henry Allen.