Background
Born in Charles County, Maryland, Dent was the son of Congressman George Dent.
Born in Charles County, Maryland, Dent was the son of Congressman George Dent.
He was acting Captain on the United States Ship Constitution" (Old Ironsides) during the attacks on Tripoli in 1804. His family had arrived in Maryland in the early Colonial days and had a long history of public service.At the age of sixteen he was appointed a Midshipman 16 March 1798. The Department of Navy had just been created by Congress in response to increasing attacks on merchant ships.
He served on Constellation when she captured the French frigate Insurgente on 1 February 1799, and after serving on Constitution in the Mediterranean, commanded the schooners Nautilus and Scourge during the First Barbary War, taking part in the attacks on Tripoli.
He was in command of Hornet from 1806 to 1807. During the War of 1812, he was senior officer in charge of United States. Naval affairs in Charleston, South Carolina.
Captain Dent never returned to Maryland. Captain Dent is buried in Jacksonboro, South Carolina.
The destroyer United States Ship Dent (Doctor of Divinity-116) was named for him.