James Lawrence. James Lawrence was an officer of the United States Navy.
During the War of 1812, he commanded USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against HMS Shannon commanded by Philip Broke. He is probably best known today for his last words, Don't give up the ship!, spoken during the capture of Chesapeake.
The quotation is still a popular naval battle cry, and was invoked by Oliver Hazard Perry's personal battle flag, adopted to commemorate his dead friend. Lawrence was born on October 1, 1781, the son of John and Martha Lawrence, in Burlington, New Jersey, but raised in Woodbury.
His mother died when he was an infant, and his Loyalist father fled to Canada during the American Revolution, leaving his half-sister to care for the young Lawrence. He attended Woodbury Academy.
Though Lawrence studied law, he entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1798. During the Quasi-War with France, he served on USS Ganges and the frigate USS Adams in the Caribbean. He was commissioned a lieutenant on April 6, 1802, and served aboard USS Enterprise in the Mediterranean, taking part in a successful attack on enemy craft on June 2, 1803. In February 1804, he was second in command during the expedition to destroy the captured frigate USS Philadelphia. Later in the conflict he commanded Enterprise and a gunboat in battles with the Tripolitans. He was also First Lieutenant of the frigate Adams and,
During the War of 1812, he commanded USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against HMS Shannon commanded by Philip Broke. He is probably best known today for his last words, Don't give up the ship!, spoken during the capture of Chesapeake.
The quotation is still a popular naval battle cry, and was invoked by Oliver Hazard Perry's personal battle flag, adopted to commemorate his dead friend. Lawrence was born on October 1, 1781, the son of John and Martha Lawrence, in Burlington, New Jersey, but raised in Woodbury.
His mother died when he was an infant, and his Loyalist father fled to Canada during the American Revolution, leaving his half-sister to care for the young Lawrence. He attended Woodbury Academy.
Though Lawrence studied law, he entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1798. During the Quasi-War with France, he served on USS Ganges and the frigate USS Adams in the Caribbean. He was commissioned a lieutenant on April 6, 1802, and served aboard USS Enterprise in the Mediterranean, taking part in a successful attack on enemy craft on June 2, 1803. In February 1804, he was second in command during the expedition to destroy the captured frigate USS Philadelphia. Later in the conflict he commanded Enterprise and a gunboat in battles with the Tripolitans. He was also First Lieutenant of the frigate Adams and,
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