18 Facts About John Hazelwood

John Hazelwood served as a Commodore in the Pennsylvania Navy and Continental Navy and was among the most noted naval officers during the American Revolutionary War.

John Hazelwood married his first wife, Mary Edgar, who died in 1769 at age 36.

John Hazelwood's son, John, was a lieutenant in an artillery company serving in the Pennsylvania Western Expedition in 1794.

John Hazelwood was a vestryman of Christ Church in Philadelphia from 1779 to 1783.

At the time Commodore John Barry was the senior navy captain in Philadelphia and the visible choice to command both the Pennsylvania and Continental navies, but command was given to Hazelwood, already in command of the Pennsylvania Navy.

John Hazelwood was promoted to Commodore of both the Pennsylvania and Continental navies in the Delaware River some time in 1777 but the exact date is not known.

John Hazelwood planned for and participated in the defense of the Delaware River approach to Philadelphia in 1777 before and during the Siege of Fort Mifflin, which lasted approximately three weeks.

John Hazelwood was appointed to oversee the building of and command of fire rafts, which were used to prevent passage of British ships bringing badly needed supplies to British in Philadelphia.

John Hazelwood frequently ordered galleys to deter British ships away from Billingsport.

John Hazelwood's galleys kept up a disrupting fire while others patrolled the waters around Fort Mifflin.

Two days later, John Hazelwood landed a body of militia on Carpenter's Island, assaulting the middle battery and capturing fifty men and two officers.

John Hazelwood reported that his fleet was in need of reinforcements but maintained that he would not draw any men from the fort, as they were badly needed there.

John Hazelwood played a major role in the American effort in keeping British ships from reaching Philadelphia by way of the Delaware River.

Vice Admiral Howe dispatched a message to John Hazelwood requesting that he surrender the Pennsylvania fleet, allowing Howe and his fleet to control the Delaware Bay, where John Hazelwood was allegedly promised a pardon from the King if he cooperated.

John Hazelwood refused the dubious offer, declaring that he would "defend the fleet to the last".

Several days before the fall of the fort Washington dispatched another letter to John Hazelwood inquiring about his status, urging that if at all possible to remain at his station with the fleet after the fort has fallen so as to hinder and prolong British operations long enough to allow the river to freeze over, preventing passage of supply ships into Philadelphia until the spring thaw.

Later that year John Hazelwood became a member of a public committee chosen to meet in Philadelphia to raise money to help provide for the Army.

John Hazelwood died in Philadelphia at age 74 on March 1,1800.