Thomas Truxtun

Thomas Truxtun (or Truxton) (February 17, 1755 - May 5, 1822) was an American naval officer. Download high resolution version (608x741, 37 KB)1817 portrait of Thomas Truxtun by Bass Otis File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (608x741, 37 KB)1817 portrait of Thomas Truxtun by Bass Otis File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1755 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 1822 (MDCCCXXII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Born near Hempstead, New York on Long Island, Truxtun had little formal education before joining the crew of the British merchant ship Pitt at the age of twelve. By the time he was twenty, however, his talents had garnered him the command of his own vessel, the Andrew Caldwell. He operated as a privateer during the American Revolution, commanding several ships: Congress, Independence, Mars and St. James. Truxtun was highly successful in capturing enemy ships during this period, not once suffering a defeat. Hempstead is the name of some places in the State of New York, in the United States of America: Hempstead (village), New York Hempstead (town), New York This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The four counties of Long Island. ... A privateer was a private ship (or its captain) authorized by a countrys government to attack and seize cargo from another countrys ships. ... The American Revolution is the series of events, ideas, and changes that resulted in the revolution and ensuing political separation of thirteen colonies in North America from the British Empire and the creation of the United States of America with a new political system. ...

After the war he returned to the merchant marine, where he remained for twelve years, and in 1786 commanded one of the first American ships to engage in trade with China, the Canton operating from Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ...

Truxtun was appointed a captain in the United States Navy in 1794, and during the Quasi War was in command of the USS Constellation. Previously, he had overseen its construction with Silas Talbot, and after a rank dispute was placed in charge of the ship by President Washington. He was promoted to commodore and met with considerable success. His victories, perhaps most notably that over the French vessel L'Insurgente, made Truxtun something of a media hero at the time. The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought entirely at sea between the United States and France from 1798 to 1800. ... The first USS Constellation, a 38-gun frigate, was the first ship to be commissioned in the United States Navy; the first US Navy vessel to put to sea; and the first US Navy vessel to engage, defeat, and capture an enemy vessel. ... Silas Talbot (11 January 1751 - 30 June 1813) was an officer in the Continental Army and in the Continental Navy. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the successful Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and later became the first President of the United States, an office to which he was elected, unanimously, twice (1789-1797). ... USS Insurgent was a French frigate, captured and then purchased by the United States Navy during Quasi-War with France. ...

During this period, however, Truxtun was involved in a dispute over rank with Richard Dale. Truxtun took command of the USS President for a few months in 1800, soon after retiring from the navy and locating first in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and later in Philadelphia. He was offered command during the First Barbary War in 1801 but refused, settling firmly into retirement. Richard Dale (6 November 1756 - 26 February 1826) was an officer in the United States Navy. ... The first USS President of the United States Navy was a 44-gun sailing frigate built by Christian Bergh, East River, New York. ... -1... Perth Amboy is a City located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. ... 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 Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ...

He ran an unsuccessful campaign for the United States House of Representatives in 1810, and in 1816 was elected sheriff of Philadelphia County, serving a four-year term. He also published several books, well-known at the time, covering navigation and naval tactics. He is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground. The chamber of the United States House of Representatives is located in the south wing of the Capitol building, in Washington, D.C.. This photograph shows a rare glimpse of the four vote tallying boards (the blackish squares across the top), which display each members name and vote as... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Philadelphia County is a county located in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. ... There are several traditions of navigation. ... Naval tactics is the collective name for methods of engaging and defeating an enemyship or fleet in battle at sea, the naval equivalent of military tactics on land. ... Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin and his wife, Deborah. ...

Several Navy ships have since been named USS Truxtun in his honor. Truxton, New York was also named in his honor. Six ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Truxtun, after the early naval hero Thomas Truxtun. ... Truxton is a town located in Cortland County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,225. ...

External links

• Excerpt from Truxtun's signal book
• Biographical sketch
• The Town of Truxton