James Barron

Background

Barron was born on September 15, 1768, in Hampton, Virginia, the son of a merchant captain named James Barron who became Commodore of the tiny Virginia State Navy during the American Revolution.

Education

As a boy, Barron served as an apprentice in with his father for several years and entered the navy as a lieutenant and served aboard the United States under John Barry.

Career

Following the example of his elder brother, Samuel, he entered the United States Navy as lieutenant, his commission being dated March 9, 1798, and so distinguished himself as an officer of the frigate United States under Commodore John Barry, that he was promoted to be captain in 1799. He commanded the frigate Essex in the squadron under the broad pennant of his brother, which was sent to the Mediterranean to cooperate with Commodore Preble's fleet; and received the command of the larger frigate President when his brother succeeded Preble as commander-in-chief of the forces in European waters. He was actively engaged in operations in the Mediterranean until the year 1805, and was considered an officer of uncommon ability.

In 1807, the European tour of duty of the frigate Constitution drawing to a close, the Chesapeake, 38 guns, then laid up, was chosen to relieve her and was placed under the command of Barron as commodore. The Chesapeake, hastily and carelessly equipped, and manned by a new and untrained crew, with Charles Gordon as captain, sailed for her new station on June 22, 1807. A few miles off the coast she was hailed by the British frigate Leopard, 50 guns, which sent an officer aboard the Chesapeake to demand the surrender of three alleged deserters from the British Navy. This demand being refused by Commodore Barron, the Leopard opened a severe fire on the Chesapeake, killing three and wounding eighteen men, Barron himself among the latter, besides doing great damage to hull and rigging. Desperate efforts were made by the crew of the American vessel to clear the ship for action, but in a short time Barron, believing that resistance would only subject his crew to massacre and his ship to destruction, hauled down his colors, firing one shot "in honor of the flag. " The alleged deserters were then taken off the Chesapeake, and the captain of the Leopard, having refused to regard the Chesapeake as a lawful prize, in spite of her surrender, proceeded on his way, while the Chesapeake returned to Hampton Roads to report the occurrence and to repair damages.

This act of unlawful violence was eventually disavowed by the British government. Barron, however, was brought before a court martial in January 1808, largely on the initiative of an address drawn up by Lieut. William Allen and signed by six officers of the Chesapeake, which requested the arrest of Barron for the disgraceful and premature surrender of his vessel. The court, presided over by Capt. John Rodgers and counting among its members such distinguished officers as Bainbridge and Decatur, while acquitting Barron of cowardice and most of the minor charges, nevertheless, "for neglecting, on the probability of an engagement, to clear his ship for action, " sentenced him to suspension from the service without pay for five years. Most of this time he spent abroad as a high officer in the French navy, but on the expiration of his sentence he returned to his native country and reentered the service. His efforts to obtain active service were, however, systematically blocked by the protests of his brother officers, and he continued on shore duty until his death.

In 1820, chafing under what he considered to be the unjust attitude of his colleagues, he sent a challenge to Commodore Stephen Decatur, whom he charged with being the head of a cabal formed for the purpose of persecuting him. The encounter took place at Bladensburg on March 22, 1820, with Commodores Elliott and Bainbridge as the respective seconds of Barron and Decatur, and resulted in the death of Decatur and the severe wounding of Barron in the thigh. On account of the universal popularity of Decatur, this affair caused all sympathy to be withdrawn from Barron, who was forced to remain on "waiting orders" for the rest of his unhappy life. He died at Norfolk in 1851, the senior officer of the navy at the time.

Achievements

• He commanded a number of famous ships, including the USS Essex and the USS President. As commander of the frigate USS Chesapeake, he was court-martialed for his actions in 1807, which led to the surrender of his ship to the British.

Connections

Father:

James Barron

Brother:

Samuel Barron

References

• Our Country, Right or Wrong: The Life of Stephen Decatur, the U.S. Navy's Most Illustrious Commander
• American Naval Heroes 1775-1812-1861-1898: Being Biographical Sketches of the Brave Men Who Have Glorified the American Navy by Their Deeds of Heroism (Classic Reprint)