Charles Morris (naval officer)

Charles Morris
Commodore Charles Morris by Southworth & Hawes, circa 1850
Born	(1784-07-26)July 26, 1784 , U.S.
Died	January 27, 1856(1856-01-27) (aged 71) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1799 to 1847
Rank	Commodore
Unit	USS Constitution
Commands held	USS Adams
Battles/wars	Quasi-War the First Barbary War and Second Barbary War War of 1812 Constitution vs Guerriere Battle of Hampden

Charles Morris (July 26, 1784 – January 27, 1856) was a United States naval officer and administrator whose service extended through the first half of the 19th century.

Morris was born in , on July 26, 1784. After being appointed a midshipman in July 1799, he served in the Quasi-War with France, First Barbary War, the Second Barbary War, and the War of 1812. He was promoted to captain in March 1813. He served as a Navy Commissioner from 1823 to 1827, and as the Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repairs from 1844 to 1847.

In 1812, Morris was appointed executive officer of the USS Constitution under the command of Isaac Hull during her battle with the HMS Guerriere, in which action Morris was severely wounded. He was promoted to captain on March 3, 1813. In 1814, he commanded the USS Adams in raiding expeditions against British commerce. Cornered in the Penobscot River in Maine by a British squadron under Captain Robert Barrie, Morris and his men went ashore with their cannons and, assisted by local militia attempted to hold off the British amphibious force in the Battle of Hampden. The British regulars routed the Americans, however, and Morris and his crew had to burn the ship and escape overland to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

In 1819 after protracted negotiation, the government of Venezuela granted all the demands of the United States on 11 August negotiated by commodore Perry. However, during the passage down the Orinoco river, Perry was stricken with yellow fever and died on board the USS John Adams.