Background
Stephen Decatur was born in 1752. He was the son of a French seaman of the same name, who according to family tradition was a lieutenant in the French navy.
Stephen Decatur was born in 1752. He was the son of a French seaman of the same name, who according to family tradition was a lieutenant in the French navy.
During the Revolution Decatur engaged in privateering, commanding in succession, 1779-81, the galley Retaliation, sloop Comet, brig Fair American, and ships Royal Louis and Rising Sun. All these were Pennsylvania vessels.
In 1781, before his cruise to Teneriffe in the last-named vessel, he was for some months imprisoned in New York. Later, with the Philadelphia merchants Gurney & Smith, he was commander and part owner of the ships Pennsylvania and Ariel, taking his son Stephen, aged eight, on one voyage to Bordeaux.
Commissioned captain in the United States navy, May 11, 1798, at the outbreak of hostilities with France, he put to sea in the Delaware, and in July captured the French privateer Le Croyable, renamed Retaliation, the first prize of the war and of the new American navy.
In the Delaware, with two smaller vessels, he was senior officer during the winter of 1798-99 off northern Cuba.
In May 1800, he arrived on the Guadeloupe station in the new frigate Philadelphia, and was senior officer of the squadron there until August.
The Philadelphia captured five prizes, returning home in March 1801.
Honorably discharged at the close of hostilities, and after some further connection with Gurney & Smith in Philadelphia, Decatur purchased an estate, “Millsdale”, near Frank-ford, Pennsylvania, where he established a gunpowder works.
Decatur was married, December 20, 1774, at the home of Capt. Moore, her guardian, to Ann Pine, of Scotch-Irish descent, daughter of John and Nancy Pine (daughter of James Bruce of Edinburgh).
Four children lived to maturity: Ann, who married Lieutenant James McKnight of the Marine Corps; Stephen; James, killed before Tripoli; and John Pine, who retired after three years’ naval service in 1810.
