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Jesse D. Elliott

Jesse Duncan Elliott
Ed elliotJD.jpg
Jesse Duncan Elliott
Born (1782-07-14)July 14, 1782
Died December 10, 1845(1845-12-10) (aged 63)
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP flag.svg United States Navy
Years of service 1804 - 1845
Rank Captain, USN
Commands held USS Niagara
USS Ontario
USS Cyane
West Indies Squadron
Boston Navy Yard
Mediterranean Squadron
Philadelphia Navy Yard
Battles/wars War of 1812
Battle of York
Battle of Fort George
Battle of Lake Erie
Second Barbary War
Relations Washington Lafayette Elliott (son)
Other work Trustee, Dickinson College 1831–1833

Jesse Duncan Elliott (14 July 1782 – 10 December 1845) was a United States naval officer and commander of American naval forces in Lake Erie during the War of 1812, especially noted for his controversial actions during the Battle of Lake Erie.

Elliott was born in Hagerstown, Maryland. His childhood home, the Elliot-Bester House, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. He enlisted in the US Navy as a midshipman in April 1804 and saw action in the Mediterranean Sea during the Barbary Wars between 1805 and 1807, serving on board the USS Essex under Commodore James Barron. In June 1807, Elliott was on board USS Chesapeake when Commodore Barron was forced to allow a search of the ship by HMS Leopard.

Elliott won promotion to lieutenant in April 1810 and was assigned to Lake Erie to oversee construction of the US naval squadron on Lake Erie upon the outbreak of the War of 1812. On 8 October 1812, he and Army Captain Nathan Towson captured the British brigs HMS Caledonia and HMS Detroit, formerly the United States brig Adams, anchored near the British Fort Erie in the upper reaches of the Niagara River. Caledonia escaped to an American port with a load of furs and became the USS Caledonia. Detroit was swept down the Niagara River into range of the British guns. Elliot battled the shore emplacement until his ammunition ran out and then beached the ship on Squaw Island (today known as Unity Island) and fled to the American side of the river. British and American guns destroyed the beached ship. Elliot and Towson were later commended for this action by Congress. In February 1813, however, Elliot was replaced as commander of the Lake Erie squadron by Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry.


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