Battle of Tripoli Harbor
Part of First Barbary War
Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli, February 16, 1804, by Edward Moran, painted 1897, depicts a naval action of the First Barbary War
Date: October, 1803-September, 1804 Location: Tripoli (present day Libya) Result: Indecisive Casus belli: {{{casus}}} Territory changes: {{{territory}}}
Combatants
United States	Ottoman vilayet of Tripoli
Commanders
Edward Preble	unknown
Strength
Mediterranean Squadron (7 ships)	Unknown
Casualties
USS Philadelphia & USS Intrepid destroyed	Unknown

The Battle of Tripoli Harbor was a naval blockade which took place during the First Barbary War between the United States Navy and the forces of Tripoli. Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli, February 16, 1804, by Edward Moran, painted 1897, depicts a naval action of the First Barbary War. ... Burning of the USS Philadelphia (painting) Copied from public domain archive of the US Navy at http://www. ... The second USS Philadelphia of the United States Navy was a 28 gun sailing frigate. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... He painted some pictures, including one of The Barbary War. ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Look up October in Wiktionary, the free dictionary October is the tenth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: none Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: none Location Position of Tripoli in Libya Government Country  Municipality Libya  Tarabulus Geographical characteristics Area n/a km² Land n/a km² Water n/a km² Population 1,682,000 (Agglomeration) [1] Total (1996) 990,000 Density n/a/km² Latitude 32°54′ N... Casus belli is a Latin expression from the international law theory of Jus ad bellum. ... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335 - 1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Ä°stanbul (Constantinople) (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40... Vilâyet (also eyalet or pashaluk) was the Turkish name for the provinces of the Ottoman Empire. ... Nickname: none Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: none Location Position of Tripoli in Libya Government Country  Municipality Libya  Tarabulus Geographical characteristics Area n/a km² Land n/a km² Water n/a km² Population 1,682,000 (Agglomeration) [1] Total (1996) 990,000 Density n/a/km² Latitude 32°54′ N... Commodore Edward Preble (1761-1807). ... The Mediterranean Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the 1800s. ... The second USS Philadelphia of the United States Navy was a 28 gun sailing frigate. ... The first USS Intrepid was a captured ketch in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War. ... Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli, February 16, 1804, by Edward Moran, painted 1897, depicts a naval action of the First Barbary War. ... The Battle of Derna was a decisive victory of a combined army of U.S. Marines, Greeks, Turks and Arabs over the forces of the Barbary coast nation of Tripoli during the First Barbary War. ... A blockade is any effort to prevent supplies, troops, information or aid from reaching an opposing force. ... Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli, February 16, 1804, by Edward Moran, painted 1897, depicts a naval action of the First Barbary War. ... Nickname: none Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: none Location Position of Tripoli in Libya Government Country  Municipality Libya  Tarabulus Geographical characteristics Area n/a km² Land n/a km² Water n/a km² Population 1,682,000 (Agglomeration) [1] Total (1996) 990,000 Density n/a/km² Latitude 32°54′ N...

Commodore Edward Preble had assumed command of the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron in 1803. By October of that year Preble had begun a blockade of Tripoli Harbor. The first significant action of the blockade came on October 31 when the USS Philadelphia ran aground on an uncharted coral reef and the Tripolitan Navy was able to capture the ship along with its crew. In February, 1804 Stephen Decatur, Jr. led a small group of sailors into the harbor and successfully burned the Philadelphia denying its use to the Tripolitans. In July the Intrepid was packed with explosives and floated into the harbor with the intention of being detonated and destroying the Tripolitan fleet. The Intrepid was destroyed prematurely and little damage was done to the fleet in the harbor. The actions against Tripoli harbor continued to prove indecisive until September when Commodore Samuel Barron assumed command of the Mediterranean Squadron and focused the fleet's attention on supporting William Eaton's attack on Derne. Commodore Edward Preble (1761-1807). ... The Mediterranean Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the 1800s. ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... The second USS Philadelphia of the United States Navy was a 28 gun sailing frigate. ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Stephen Decatur, Jr. ... July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... William Eaton (23 February 1764 - 1 June 1811) was an American Army officer, involved with the First Barbary War. ... The Battle of Derna was a decisive victory of a combined army of U.S. Marines, Greeks, Turks and Arabs over the forces of the Barbary coast nation of Tripoli during the First Barbary War. ...

Several of the United States' early naval heroes served in the blockade including Stephen Decatur, William Bainbridge, Charles Stewart, Isaac Hull, David Porter, Reuben James and Edward Preble. Many of these officers would play a significan role in the upcoming War of 1812. Stephen Decatur, Jr. ... William Bainbridge (1774-1833). ... Charles Stewart (28 July 1778 - 6 November 1869) was an officer in the United States Navy. ... Isaac Hull (March 9, 1773 – February 13, 1843), was a Commodore, in the United States Navy. ... David Porter (February 1, 1780 – March 3, 1843) was an officer in the United States Navy and later the commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy. ... Reuben James saving the life of Stephen Decatur Reuben James (c. ... Commodore Edward Preble (1761-1807). ... This page refers to the war between the United States of America and Great Britain. ...

Sources

• The Barbary Wars, 1801-1805
• Tripolitan War