Joseph Tarbell

1780 (age 35)

In December 1798 he was appointed a midshipman on the Constitution and served on board her during the naval war with France. He was with that ship when she captured the Sandwich and for a time was the prize-master of the prize. On August 25, 1800, he was promoted lieutenant. Retained under the peace establishment of 1801, he was ordered to the Essex. In 1803 he sailed for the Mediterranean as a lieutenant of the Constitution and two years later returned home in the President. As one of the officers of Commodore Edward Preble, he was included in the resolution of Congress of March3, 1805, expressing the thanks of that body for the gallantry and good conduct displayed in the attacks on Tripoli in 1804. After service at Havre de Grace, Md. , on ordnance duty, he was made master of the Washington navy yard in 1806. In 1807 he joined the gunboat flotilla of Capt. Stephen Decatur and in the following year was a member of the court that tried Capt. James Barron after the Chesapeake-Leopard affair. On April 25, 1808, he was commissioned master commandant. In 1810-11, as commander of the Siren, he helped to enforce the embargo at Charleston, S. C. , and the suppression of the slave trade at New Orleans. In 1811 after preparing the Hornet for sea at Washington, he was ordered to take command of the John Adams at Boston. His principal service during the War of 1812 was performed at Norfolk where he commanded first the Constellation and later the gunboat flotilla. On June 20, 1813, fifteen gunboats under his command engaged the Junon, 38, and two other small frigates, becalmed at Hampton Roads, with a slight loss on each side. This was the chief event in his naval career. He remained with the flotilla until the end of the war, being promoted captain in July 1813. He died in Washington, D. C. , survived by his wife and their two daughters.

Joseph Tarbell

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military officer

Background

Tarbell was born in Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1780.

Career

In December 1798 he was appointed a midshipman on the Constitution and served on board her during the naval war with France. He was with that ship when she captured the Sandwich and for a time was the prize-master of the prize. On August 25, 1800, he was promoted lieutenant. Retained under the peace establishment of 1801, he was ordered to the Essex.

In 1803 he sailed for the Mediterranean as a lieutenant of the Constitution and two years later returned home in the President. As one of the officers of Commodore Edward Preble, he was included in the resolution of Congress of March3, 1805, expressing the thanks of that body for the gallantry and good conduct displayed in the attacks on Tripoli in 1804. After service at Havre de Grace, Md. , on ordnance duty, he was made master of the Washington navy yard in 1806. In 1807 he joined the gunboat flotilla of Capt. Stephen Decatur and in the following year was a member of the court that tried Capt. James Barron after the Chesapeake-Leopard affair. On April 25, 1808, he was commissioned master commandant. In 1810-11, as commander of the Siren, he helped to enforce the embargo at Charleston, S. C. , and the suppression of the slave trade at New Orleans. In 1811 after preparing the Hornet for sea at Washington, he was ordered to take command of the John Adams at Boston.

His principal service during the War of 1812 was performed at Norfolk where he commanded first the Constellation and later the gunboat flotilla. On June 20, 1813, fifteen gunboats under his command engaged the Junon, 38, and two other small frigates, becalmed at Hampton Roads, with a slight loss on each side. This was the chief event in his naval career.

He remained with the flotilla until the end of the war, being promoted captain in July 1813. He died in Washington, D. C. , survived by his wife and their two daughters.

Achievements

In 1918 a torpedo-boat destroyer was named for him.

Connections

In 1808 he married Eliza Cassin, the daughter of a naval officer.

Spouse:: Eliza Cassin

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Joseph Tarbell

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