(1773-1843) naval hero of the War of 1812

Isaac Hull was born in Derby, Connecticut, on March 9, 1773. He went to sea at the age of 14, joining his father, a mariner, on local voyages and longer trips to the West Indies. During the mid-1790's he commanded several merchant vessels, losing some to French privateers.

Commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in March 1798, Hull distinguished himself during the next two years while serving on board the frigate Constitution in the undeclared war with France. During the Barbary Wars he commanded the schooner Enterprise and the brig Argus, receiving promotion to the rank of Master Commandant in 1804 and to Captain in 1806. On April 27, 1805, he supported William Eaton in the capture of Derna, Tripoli. Between 1809 and 1810 he was successively given command of the frigates Chesapeake, President and Constitution.

When the United States declared war on Great Britain in 1812, Hull borrowed money to provision his ship -- the Constitution -- and put to sea without orders.On August 19, 1812, the Constitution sighted the 38-gun British frigate Guerrière off the coast of Nova Scotia. Hull bore down on the Guerrière and defeated her in a fierce 30-minute battle. The victory, for which Congress awarded him a gold medal, had an important effect on the nation's morale and proved that the new United States Navy was not to be taken lightly.

Upon his return to the United States, Hull was given command of the Portsmouth Navy Yard at Kittery, Maine, where he served through the end of the war. He then briefly served on the Board of Navy Commissioners in Washington before taking over leadership of the Boston Navy Yard.

From 1823 to 1827, Hull commanded the U.S. squadron operating along South America's Pacific coast. He served as Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard from 1829 to 1835, and commanded the Mediterranean Squadron from 1839 to 1841. He was forced to retire from the Navy in 1841 due to ill health, and died in Philadelphia on February 13, 1843.

-----. "Commodore Isaac Hull, USN, (1773-1843)." Online Library of Selected Images--People--United States. Naval Historical Center, 2003.
www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-h/i-hull.htm
(viewed January 13, 2006)

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