Who was Commodore Isaac Hull? |
An early portrait of Commodore Hull
Isaac
Hull was born in Derby in 1773. His father was a sea captain and Isaac
learned his nautical skills in Derby before joining the merchant service
and commanding his first ship at the age of 19. When the new United States
Navy was created in 1798, Isaac Hull was appointed a lieutenant on one of
the four ships built for the new navy. He proceed to distinguish himself
in the "quasi-war" with France and the war with the Barbary pirates.
When Hull attained the rank of
captain in the American Navy, he was put in command of the
U.S.S. Constitution. On Aug. 19, 1812 the
Constitution
became engaged in a battle with the Guerriere, an English Navy vessel.
Within one half hour, the
Constitution had won the battle, making it the
first naval win for the U.S. during the War of 1812.
Hull had used his heavier broadsides and his ship’s superior sailing
ability, while the British, to their astonishment, saw that their shot
seemed to rebound harmlessly off Constitution’s hull — giving her
the nickname 'Old Ironsides'. This battle marked the first time in
history that an English frigate had struck its flag to an American ship of
war.
Hull went on to command the Portsmouth Naval Yard and
build the USS Washington, the largest American battleship ever built
to that time. Hull was Promoted to commodore in 1823. After Portsmouth he
commanded the Pacific squadron, the Washington Navy Yard, and the
Mediterranean squadron.
The U.S.S. Constitution
is the oldest commissioned battleship in the
U.S. Navy and is still on display in Boston Harbor.
For more information,
use the following links:
-
See the words to the song about
the battle and Commodore Hull's leadership by
clicking
here or listen to a special rendition
here .
-
Visit the official site
for "Old Ironsides" by
clicking here.
-
Read the poem "Old
Ironsides" by Oliver Wendell Holmes by
clicking here
Chronology of Service
1798
|
9 March
|
Appointed to USS Constitution as Lieutenant |
|
6 July
|
Commission as Lieutenant delivered |
1801
|
8 July
|
Ordered to remain on board USS Constitution |
|
21 September
|
Ordered to take charge of USS Constitution |
1802
|
1 April
|
Ordered to duty in USS John
Adams |
1803
|
|
Ordered to command of USS Enterprise |
|
|
Ordered to command USS Argus |
1804
|
18 May
|
Promoted to Master Commandant |
|
23 November
|
Commission issued |
1806
|
23 April
|
Promoted to Captain |
|
24 July
|
Returned to the United States in Argus and ordered to
Connecticut to contract for and superintend building of four
gunboats |
1807
|
9 January
|
Commission as Captain issued |
|
26 June
|
Ordered to Hampton, Virginia, to act as member of a Court of
Inquiry |
|
11 July
|
Ordered to Norfolk under
Commodore
Decatur |
|
12 September
|
Appointed member of Board of Inquiry |
1809
|
11 January
|
Ordered to duty in USS John Adams |
|
2 February
|
Ordered to Norfolk for duty in USS Chesapeake |
|
15 April
|
Ordered to take command of Portland Station in addition to
other duties |
1812
|
10 October
|
Ordered to command at New York |
|
12 November
|
Ordered to Washington |
1813
|
|
Ordered to command of Boston Navy Yard |
|
|
Ordered to command of Portsmouth Navy Yard |
1814
|
18 January
|
Granted short leave of absence |
|
21 January
|
Ordered to report to
Commodore Bainbridge at Charleston, SC |
1815
|
|
Appointed to Board of Navy Commissioners |
1824-1827
|
|
Commodore of Pacific Squadron - Flagship
United States |
1829-1835
|
|
Commanded Washington Navy Yard |
1833
|
|
Commanded USS Constitution |
1835
|
|
On leave |
1838
|
|
Appointed Commodore of Mediterranean Squadron - Flagship
Ohio |
1841
|
|
Retired |
1843
|
|
Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Source: "Isaac Hull, USN" (single-page undated typed
chronology covering 1798-1814) and other items in Isaac Hull ZB file,
Navy Department Library.
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