James Lawrence (1781 - 1813)

Born 1 Oct 1781 in Burlington, New Jersey

Ancestors

Descendants

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James Lawrence was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in the War of 1812.

Captain James Lawrence served in the United States Navy in the War of 1812
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Biography

Captain James Lawrence was Killed in Action during War of 1812.

James Lawrence is Notable.

• James Lawrence was born in Burlington, New Jersey October 1, 1781. ^[1]
• During the first Barbary war Lawrence fought in the mediterranian on the Enterprise.

USS Hornet engages HMS Peacock

On February 14, 1813, Master Commandant James Lawrence was commanding the USS Hornet. While on patrol near the Demerara River, Lawrence noticed the HMS Espiegle anchored in the river and the HMS Peacock quickly approaching. With superior skills he managed to engage the Peacock and after a short exchange of "broadsides" the Hornet had bested the British and the Peacock sank in only 33 feet of water. ^[2] He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal

In the spring of 1813 James Lawrence served on the Adams under Stephen Decataur who was on the Enterprise. ^[1] When Lawrence was made a full captain he was appointed as Captain of the Chesapeake which had obtained a stigma since its battle earlier in the war. He also had a problem with his sailors in that most of them had ended their term in the military and were quickly leaving. Lawrence had been favorably looked upon by his enemies due to him doing his best to make it as painless as possible for those that had been taken Captive upon his ships. ^[1]

Around Noon on June 1, 1813 the Chesapeake under Lawrence left dock even though there had been rumors of their being a British ship in the area. ^[1] That ship was the Shannon under Admiral Broke. During this battle Lawrence is said to of stated his well known "Don't give up the ship." He said this in response to the Shannon being a lot more influential power wise then the earlier entanglements Lawrence had been involved in.

James Lawrence died on June 4, 1813 during the battle against the Shannon due to the Shannon's artillery. There is some debate though in regards to the battle whether the Chesapeake raised their colors or not. This is due to the fact no one that had been above Deck survived the battle. ^[1]

Notes

War of 1812

“Captain Lawrence, mortally wounded by small arms fire, ordered "Don't give up the ship" as he was carried below. However, his crew was overwhelmed by British boarders shortly afterwards. James Lawrence died of his wounds on 4 June, while Chesapeake was being taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, by her captors. His body was later repatriated to New York for burial.”

“When Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry won his famous victory over the British on Lake Erie on 10 September 1813, he flew at the mainmast of his flagship a blue battleflag inscribed with Capt. Lawrence's dying words.”

The U.S. Navy has named five ships in honor of James Lawrence, including: U.S. Brig Lawrence (1813-1825); U.S. Brig Lawrence (1843-1846); USS Lawrence (Destroyer # 8); USS Lawrence (DD-250); and USS Lawrence (DDG-4).

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-l/j-lawrnc.htm

Burial: Trinity Church, Manhattan, New York, USA

Legacy

• Nine U.S. states have named counties in Capt. Lawrence's honor. They are: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} 1812 The war that forged a nation, Harper Perennial (2004)
2. ↑ Wikipedia

• Wikipedia:James_Lawrence Wikipedia
• Gleaves, A. (1904). James Lawrence, captain, United States navy: Commander of the "Chesapeake,". New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.