14 Facts About Jonathan Thorn

Jonathan Thorn was a career officer of the United States Navy in the early 19th century.

Jonathan Thorn was appointed a midshipman at age 21 on 28 April 1800.

Jonathan Thorn's other brother, Herman, was a purser on the USS Wasp and the USS Peacock.

Jonathon Jonathan Thorn served in the Navy during the Tripolitan War and volunteered to take part in the hazardous expedition to destroy the captured frigate Philadelphia, which was moored beneath the guns of the defended Tripoli harbor.

Specially commended by Decatur for his conduct in this battle, Jonathan Thorn received command of one of the Tripolitan gunboats captured.

Jonathan Thorn was assigned as the first commandant of the New York Navy Yard at age 27 in June 1806 and served there for 13 months.

Jonathan Thorn was the youngest officer ever to command a United States Naval Yard.

Jonathan Thorn's letters reflect his efforts to build, preserve, and inventory gunboats.

In July 1807 Jonathan Thorn exhausted requested and was granted a leave of absence.

In 1810, Jonathan Thorn was granted a two-year furlough to command the Pacific Fur Company's sailing bark, the Tonquin, owned by John Jacob Astor.

Jonathan Thorn soon tried to trade with the local Tla-o-qui-aht people.

Mutually satisfactory terms could not be settled upon, and Jonathan Thorn slapped the elder appointed to represent the indigenous interests with a fur in the face.

Jonathan Thorn's behavior has been sharply criticized by fur traders who had to sail with him.

Jonathan Thorn was a strict disciplinarian, of a quick and passionate temper, accustomed to exact obedience, considering nothing but duty, and giving himself no trouble about the murmurs of his crew, taking council of nobody, and following Mr Astor's instructions to the letter.