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Joel Abbot

Joel Abbot
Born (1793-01-18)January 18, 1793
Westford, Massachusetts
Died December 14, 1855(1855-12-14) (aged 62)
Hong Kong
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service (1812-1855)
Rank Union Navy captain rank insignia (1864-1866).png Captain, Flag Officer
Commands held captured pirate ship Mariana (1818)
Boston Navy Yard (1838)
USS Decatur (1843)
USS Macedonian (1852)
Flag Officer, East India Squadron (1854)
Battles/wars War of 1812

Joel Abbot (January 18, 1793 – December 14, 1855) was a U.S. naval officer who served notably in the War of 1812, and commanded a ship during Commodore Perry's 1852 visit to Japan.

Born in Westford, Massachusetts, Abbot entered the Navy at the age of 19 as midshipman at the beginning of the War of 1812.

He served first on the frigate USS President and next on Lake Champlain with Commodore Macdonough, who, when he asked Abbot if he were ready to die for his country received the reply "Certainly, sir; that is what I came into the service for." For his success in this dangerous exploit, and for his bravery in the engagement at Cumberland Head on 11 September 1814, the young officer received a sword of honor from Congress and was commissioned a lieutenant. In 1818, he was given charge of the captured pirate ship Mariana.

Abbot was promoted to commander in 1838, and the following year was given command of the Boston Navy Yard.

In 1843 he took command of the sloop-of-war Decatur in Commodore Perry’s African Squadron.

On 3 October 1850, Abbot was promoted to captain. In 1852, when Commodore Perry was entrusted with power to select the officers to accompany him on his famous Japan expedition, he chose Abbot to command the sailing frigate USS Macedonian.

In 1854, he was appointed commodore of the East India Squadron. (At that time, commodore was the title of the commander of a squadron of ships, rather than a rank in the Navy.) He died in Hong Kong on December 14, 1855.


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