18 Facts About Jesse Elliott

Jesse Duncan Elliott was a United States naval officer and commander of American naval forces in Lake Erie during the War of 1812, especially noted for his controversial actions during the Battle of Lake Erie.

Jesse Elliott enlisted in the US Navy as a midshipman in April 1804 and saw action in the Mediterranean Sea during the Barbary Wars between 1805 and 1807, serving on board the USS Essex under Commodore James Barron.

In June 1807, Elliott was on board USS Chesapeake when Commodore Barron was forced to allow a search of the ship by HMS Leopard.

Jesse Elliott won promotion to lieutenant in April 1810 and was assigned to Lake Erie to oversee construction of the US naval squadron on Lake Erie upon the outbreak of the War of 1812.

Jesse Elliott battled the shore emplacement until his ammunition ran out and then beached the ship on Squaw Island and fled to the American side of the river.

In February 1813 Elliott was replaced as commander of the Lake Erie squadron by Master Commandant Oliver H Perry.

Jesse Elliott felt Perry had insufficient combat experience, and was particularly critical of Perry's choice of Presque Isle for his shipyard.

Jesse Elliott won distinction for his actions and official praise from Perry, and was given command of the Lake Erie squadron the next month.

In 1818 Jesse Elliott was elected as an honorary member of the Maryland Society of the Cincinnati.

Perry claimed that Jesse Elliott had failed to offer timely support; Jesse Elliott decried lack of communication and signals on Perry's part.

Jesse Elliott served as the second to Captain James Barron in the duel in which Barron killed Decatur in 1820.

Decatur's widow published the charges made by Perry years later as she held Jesse Elliott to be at least partially responsible for her husband's death.

Jesse Elliott commanded the sloop USS Ontario during the Second Barbary War, and was promoted to Captain in 1818, serving on a naval commission selecting sites for navy yards, lighthouses, and other coastal fortifications, until 1822.

In 1820, Jesse Elliott was second to Commodore James Barron when the latter fatally shot Stephen Decatur in a duel.

Jesse Elliott was transferred to the Brazil Squadron in 1825, served as captain of the USS Cyane for two years, and later commanded the West Indies Squadron from 1829 to 1832.

Jesse Elliott was appointed commander of the Boston Navy Yard in 1833 and of the frigate USS Constitution and the Mediterranean Squadron from 3 March 1835 to 18 August 1838.

Jesse Elliott was politically unpopular at the time, and was convicted of these charges and suspended from duty for four years until the remaining charges were dismissed by President John Tyler in October 1843.

Jesse Elliott is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia.