47 Facts About Richard Dale

Richard Dale became one of the six original commodores of the permanent United States Navy, and commanded a blockade of Tripoli in 1801 during the First Barbary War of Thomas Jefferson's presidency.

Richard Dale was born in Portsmouth parish, Norfolk County, Virginia, the eldest son of Winfield Dale, shipwright and merchant, and Ann Sutherland.

Richard Dale's father died when Dale was ten years old.

Two years later, Dale signed on with a merchant vessel owned by an uncle that took him to Liverpool, England.

Richard Dale remained in the merchant service until the spring of 1776.

Richard Dale knew many of the men in the ship's crew from his time as a merchant, and they persuaded Dale to sign up for the British cause.

Richard Dale served for Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia.

Richard Dale volunteered to serve on the American ship, and entered their service with the rank of Midshipman.

Richard Dale continued on with Lexington after Barry was replaced as captain by William Hallock, who promoted Dale to Master's Mate.

Select officers from Lexington were taken onto Pearl as prisoners, Richard Dale included, although a sudden gale permitted the rest of the America crew to escape.

Richard Dale continued the education he had not completed in his youth.

Richard Dale taught himself the multiplication table, different weights and measures, multiplication and division, as well as fractions.

Richard Dale examined the rules of barter, stocks and interest, and created a glossary of different naval commands necessary to captain a ship.

Richard Dale walked out of the prison gates without creating suspicion, wearing the uniform of a British officer.

Richard Dale never recorded how he had obtained the uniform.

Richard Dale obtained the necessary papers in London to leave England and make his escape to L'Orient, France.

Richard Dale received a promotion to First Lieutenant in short order.

When rumors that Bonhomme Richard was sinking reached him from below decks, and that the crew was prepared to surrender, Dale went to ascertain the damage.

Richard Dale compelled his British prisoners to man the pumps to keep the ship afloat while the battle continued above.

Richard Dale then arranged for Pearson to meet with Jones to arrange the surrender of Serapis.

Once his duties had been fulfilled, Richard Dale realized that he had been wounded in the melee.

The rank of first lieutenant that Jones bestowed upon Richard Dale was, to this point, recognized only by the French government that had financed Jones' privateer ventures.

Richard Dale declined Jones' offer, concerned that he would be kept away from sea too long during construction of the ship.

Richard Dale's decision proved astute, since Congress ultimately gave the ship to the French government in payment of a debt, rather than to Jones to captain.

Richard Dale was wounded, then captured in the ensuing fight and taken to New York City.

New York had been occupied by British forces since 1776, and Richard Dale was again a prisoner of war.

When Richard Dale received command of the ship, he was able to use it to advantage and captured a number of the enemy's vessels.

In 1783, Richard Dale became an original member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati.

Richard Dale got involved in the China Trade after the war, both as an investor and as a seaman.

Richard Dale became a successful captain and merchant during his commercial ventures between the United States and seaports in the Far East, in both China and India.

Richard Dale used this time to visit his former commander and lifelong friend, John Barry.

On one visit, Richard Dale met the cousin of Barry's wife Sarah, Dorethea Crathorne.

Richard Dale requested and received a temporary furlough from the Navy and resumed business in the China trade.

Richard Dale was called back into the Navy in 1796 because of tensions that had developed between the United States and France, in what was known as the Quasi-War.

Richard Dale commanded the Indiaman Canton, returning to Delaware Bay 11 April, 1800.

Richard Dale was to command a small fleet assigned to protect American merchant ships in the Mediterranean Sea.

Richard Dale maintained the blockade until a lack of provisions and rampant illness among the crews of his ships compelled him to return to his base in Virginia.

Richard Dale received new orders to return to the Mediterranean after his return to the States; however, he was dissatisfied with the conditions of his assignment.

Richard Dale resigned his commission in the United States Navy when he discovered that there would be no captain on his flagship.

Richard Dale considered it a dishonor for him to assume the responsibilities of a captain while serving as a commodore.

Richard Dale had done well for himself as a merchant seaman.

Richard Dale served as its president from September 1824 to July 1825.

Richard Dale remained an active member for the rest of his life, and became involved in the effort to construct a monument dedicated to George Washington in Philadelphia, which ultimately never materialized.

Richard Dale was a co-founder of the Mariner's Church, a non-denominational church located right off the docks of the city port to cater to traveling seamen.

Richard Dale served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese, a Trustee of the Episcopate Fund, and participated in various conventions dedicated to the perpetuation of the Episcopalian message.

Richard Dale closely followed the construction and affairs of the St Stephens Church in Philadelphia during its construction and until his death.

Many of the ships upon which Richard Dale served are as follows:.