Background
Richard was born on September 15, 1778 at Somers Point, New Jersey. His great-grandfather, John Somers, came to America from England before 1693 and the family ultimately settled in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the Great Egg Harbor region, acquiring a considerable amount of land. He was the youngest of six children of Richard and Sophia (Stillwell) Somers. The elder Richard was a colonel in the militia, a county judge, and an ardent Whig. It appears that because of the exposure of Egg Harbor to Loyalist attacks during the American Revolution, Colonel Somers moved to Philadelphia soon after the British evacuation of that city.
Education
Young Richard Somers received some elementary schooling in Philadelphia, but later attended an academy in Burlington, New Jersey, where he remained until about the time of his father's death in October 1794.
Career
After graduation from the academy in Burlington, Somers was apparently engaged in coastwise shipping between New York and Philadelphia, but on April 30, 1798, along with Stephen Decatur, 1779-1820, he enlisted in the navy and served as midshipman aboard the frigate United States.
Her cruise began in July 1798, and was continued, chiefly in West Indian waters, during the remainder of the year. Hardly more than a twelvemonth after his enlistment Somers received a promotion to the rank of third lieutenant; then, in the autumn of 1799, he sailed on board the United States for Europe in company with the American commissioners to France.
The United States was laid up after the peace of 1801, and Somers was transferred, as first lieutenant, to the frigate Boston which, during the summer of 1801, sailed for France with Chancellor Livingston on board, and later proceeded to the Mediterranean where American warships were engaged in the war with Tripoli.
Soon after the return of the Boston to America near the end of 1802, Somers was given command of the schooner Nautilus, attached to the squadron of Commodore Edward Preble. It was employed in convoying merchantmen, in blockading Tripoli, and in obtaining supplies from Naples.
In August 1804 Somers was placed in command of one of two divisions of gunboats which had been borrowed from Naples. In each of the ensuing attacks upon Tripoli, on August 3, 7, 28, and September 3, he displayed great coolness and courage, and earned the high commendation of Preble. In the meantime, plans were being made to send a fireship into the harbor at Tripoli. Somers, now a captain, volunteered to prepare the craft and to take her into the harbor. The vessel employed was a ketch which had been captured from the Tripolitans and renamed the Intrepid.
About one hundred barrels of powder were stored in her magazine, and about 150 shells were placed on her deck. Fuses were installed which were expected to burn fifteen minutes before igniting the powder, and the thirteen men who accompanied the Intrepid were to escape to safety by means of two small boats. The ketch entered the harbor on the night of September 4, but, before reaching her intended destination, she suddenly exploded, killing all hands, and apparently failing to injure the enemy.
After his death a number of vessels were named in his honor, and a resolution was passed by Congress on March 3, 1805, expressing regret for the loss of the gallant men who had died in the Intrepid venture.
Personality
Somers was of middle stature and sturdy of frame. Ordinarily mild and amiable, he was on occasion, given to heroic and dramatic action. While a very young man, he once fought three duels in one day with associates who had questioned his courage.
