40 Facts About Thomas Macdonough

Thomas Macdonough was the son of a revolutionary officer, Thomas Macdonough, Sr.

Thomas Macdonough was the sixth child from a family of ten siblings and was raised in the countryside.

Thomas Macdonough entered naval life at an early age, receiving a midshipman's commission at the age of sixteen.

Macdonough's great-grandfather, named Thomas Macdonough, lived in Leinster, Ireland in the Salmon Leap district not far from Dublin.

Thomas Macdonough's surname derives from the Gaelic Mac Donnchadha meaning son of donnachada- brown warrior.

Thomas Macdonough was employed in Middletown as a clerk upon the return of his brother James, who lost a leg in a naval battle with a French vessel in 1799 during the Quasi-War with France.

Shortly after, Thomas Macdonough requested a commission with the United States Navy with the assistance of Senator Latimer from the state of Delaware.

Thomas Macdonough was a tall, dignified man with a commanding character which suited him well for military service.

Thomas Macdonough was a devoutly religious man of Episcopal faith, as were his parents and greater family.

Thomas Macdonough was known to adhere to a set of steadfast principles in his personal and military life.

Thomas Macdonough received a contemporary education here but it remains uncertain if he attended any sort of formal schools or was taught by family members or a tutor.

Aboard Constellation in January 1802, Thomas Macdonough served with distinction in naval operations against Tripoli during the First Barbary War.

Thomas Macdonough was aboard this ship when it captured the Moroccan ship Mirboka on August 26,1803.

Shortly before Philadelphia ran aground and was consequently captured by the Tripolitans, Thomas Macdonough had gone ashore on leave.

Thomas Macdonough volunteered to join Decatur's successful raid into the harbor of Tripoli.

Thomas Macdonough accompanied Decatur when they hunted down the murderer of Decatur's brother, James Decatur, who was killed by the commander when he boarded a Tripolitan ship that had pretended to be surrendering.

In January 1806, Thomas Macdonough was promoted to a commission of Lieutenant.

Thomas Macdonough returned to America and enforced the Embargo Act, and the Atlantic blockade, from 1807 and 1808.

Thomas Macdonough returned to Middletown, Connecticut, and was placed in charge of the several gunboats there.

Thomas Macdonough remained in Middleton for only eight months before requesting a furlough in June 1810.

From 1810 to 1812, Thomas Macdonough took a leave of absence for two years as the captain of a British merchantman that was en route to India.

Thomas Macdonough's stay there was brief when he received new orders from Secretary of the Navy Hamilton.

Thomas Macdonough was reassigned to Burlington, Vermont to command US naval forces in Lake Champlain in October 1812.

On July 24,1813, Thomas Macdonough was promoted to the rank of master commandant.

Thomas Macdonough feared that the British, who he assumed by now knew of the ship construction going on there, would use the opportunity to capture or destroy the vessels being built.

However, Thomas Macdonough had learned of the attack beforehand from his observers on land and had prepared a defense in anticipation of this likely event.

Thomas Macdonough constructed an artillery battery with which he repelled the attack and drove the Royal Navy back to Isle Aux Noix in Canadian waters by autumn.

Thomas Macdonough had yet to experience a ship-to-ship action, being on a vessel that was receiving broadsides, surrounded by dead and wounded men.

Regardless of this lack in experience, Thomas Macdonough well understood that defending and holding Plattsburgh, thus not allowing General Macomb's troops to be surrounded by British forces on land and water, was vital to victory in the campaign.

Thomas Macdonough expected to take advantage of the prevailing winds on Lake Champlain that constrained Downie's axis of approach.

Thomas Macdonough was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal at this time.

Thomas Macdonough was awarded by the State of New York a thousand acres of land in Cayuga county, with another hundred acres awarded to him from the State of Vermont, making the once modest commodore a wealthy man.

Thomas Macdonough relieved Isaac Hull of command of the Portsmouth Navy Yard on July 1,1815.

On October 14,1825, Thomas Macdonough had to relieve himself of his command.

The day before his death, in the presence of Dr Turk, Thomas Macdonough drew up and signed a will leaving a small sum of money to his servant, his wife having died several months beforehand.

On November 10,1825, Thomas Macdonough died aboard ship while it was passing Gibraltar.

Thomas Macdonough's body was returned to the United States and was buried in Middletown, Connecticut.

Thomas Macdonough was laid to rest alongside his wife Ann Shaler, a lady of a prominent family in Middletown, she having died just a few months earlier.

Thomas Macdonough had a decidedly superior force to contend against, the officers and men of the two sides being about on a par in every respect; and it was solely owing to his foresight and resource that we won the victory.

Thomas Macdonough forced the British to engage at a disadvantage by his excellent choice of position; and he prepared beforehand for every possible contingency.