Oliver Hazard Perry

Oliver Hazard Perry. He was a United States Navy commodore and national hero celebrated for his decisive victory at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. His famous after-action report, "We have met the enemy and they are ours," became a legendary symbol of American nationalism. His service also included the Quasi-War and the First Barbary War, cementing his reputation as a foundational figure in early American naval history.

Early life and naval career

Born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, he was the eldest son of Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, and the older brother of Matthew C. Perry. He entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in April 1799, serving under his father on the USS ''General Greene'' during the Quasi-War against France. His early career included service in the Mediterranean Sea during the First Barbary War, where he was stationed aboard vessels like the USS ''Adams'' and the USS ''Constellation''. In 1807, he was given his first command, the USS ''Revenge'', conducting surveys along the New England coast until the schooner was tragically lost in a wreck off Watch Hill, Rhode Island in 1811.

War of 1812 and the Battle of Lake Erie

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, he was initially assigned to command a fleet of gunboats at Newport, Rhode Island. Seeking a more active role, he was transferred to the Great Lakes theater in 1813. Charged by Commodore Isaac Chauncey with building an American squadron at Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania, he oversaw the construction of ships like the USS ''Lawrence'' and USS ''Niagara''. On September 10, 1813, he engaged the British Royal Navy squadron commanded by Commander Robert Heriot Barclay in the Battle of Lake Erie. After his flagship Lawrence was disabled, he famously transferred his battle flag to the Niagara and broke the British line, securing a complete victory. This triumph gave the United States control of the lake, enabled William Henry Harrison's successful advance into Upper Canada, and led to the American victory at the Battle of the Thames.

Later service and death

Following his legendary success, he received a promotion to the rank of captain and was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal. He saw further service in 1814, commanding the USS ''Java'' in the Mediterranean Squadron during the Second Barbary War. In 1819, he was sent on a diplomatic mission to the Republic of Gran Colombia, seeking to suppress piracy in the Caribbean Sea. While sailing aboard the USS ''Nonsuch'' on the Orinoco River, he contracted yellow fever. He died on his 34th birthday, August 23, 1819, at Port of Spain in Trinidad, where he was initially buried with full military honors.

Legacy and honors

His legacy as "Hero of Lake Erie" is enshrined in numerous monuments, including the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial on Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Several U.S. Navy vessels have been named in his honor, such as the USS ''Perry'' and the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate. The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland displays his battle flag, and his name adorns several counties and towns across the Midwestern United States. His younger brother, Matthew C. Perry, would later achieve fame for opening Japan to the West, further cementing the family's naval dynasty. The iconic phrase from his Battle of Lake Erie report remains a lasting part of American martial lore.

Category:United States Navy officers Category:War of 1812 people Category:People from Rhode Island