Return to Online
Library listing
Return to Online
Library listing
James Lawrence was born in Burlington, New Jersey, on 1 October 1781. Though educated in the field of law, he joined the infant United States Navy in September 1798 as a Midshipman and served in the ship Ganges and frigate Adams during the undeclared war with France. Commissioned in the rank of Lieutenant in 1802, he served in the schooner Enterprise during the War with Tripoli, taking part in a successful attack on enemy craft on 2 June 1803. In February 1804 he was second in command during the daring expedition to destroy the captured frigate Philadelphia. Later in the conflict he commanded the Enterprise and a gunboat in battles with the Tripolitans. He was also First Lieutenant of the frigate John Adams and, in 1805, commanded the small Gunboat Number 6 during a voyage across the Atlantic to Italy.
Subsequently, Lieutenant Lawrence commanded the warships Vixen, Wasp and Argus. In 1810 he also took part in trials of an experimental spar-torpedo. Promoted to the rank of Master Commandant in November 1810, he took command of the sloop of war Hornet a year later and sailed her to Europe on a diplomatic mission. From the beginning of the War of 1812, Lawrence and Hornet cruised actively, capturing the privateer Dolphin in July 1812. Later in the year Hornet blockaded the British sloop Bonne Citoyenne at Bahia, Brazil, and on 24 February 1813 captured HMS Peacock.
Upon his return to the United States in March, Lawrence learned of his promotion to Captain. Two months later he took command of the frigate Chesapeake, then preparing for sea at Boston, Massachusetts. She left port on 1 June 1813 and immediately engaged the Royal Navy frigate Shannon in a fierce battle. Captain Lawrence, mortally wounded by small arms fire, ordered "Don't give up the ship" as he was carried below. However, his crew was overwhelmed by British boarders shortly afterwards. James Lawrence died of his wounds on 4 June, while Chesapeake was being taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, by her captors. His body was later repatriated to New York for burial.
The U.S. Navy has named five ships in honor of James Lawrence, including: U.S. Brig Lawrence (1813-1825); U.S. Brig Lawrence (1843-1846); USS Lawrence (Destroyer # 8); USS Lawrence (DD-250); and USS Lawrence (DDG-4).
This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have of Captain James Lawrence, USN.
For pictures of Captain James Lawrence during his final
battle, see:
HMS Shannon
captures USS Chesapeake, 1 June 1813 -- Views on board
Chesapeake during the action.
| If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
|
Photo #: KN-2579 (Color) Master Commandant James Lawrence, USN (1781-1813) Oil on wood, 28.5" x 23.5", by Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), Boston, circa 1812. Painting in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum Collection. Bequest of George M. Moffett, 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 94KB; 590 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
 |
|
Photo #: 80-G-K-17587 (Color) Captain James Lawrence, USN (1781-1813) Portrait in oils, 28" x 22", by J. Herring (1794-1867), after Gilbert Stuart. Painting in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum Collection. Gift of Mrs. Albert Gleaves, 1938. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 84KB; 585 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 48246 Captain James Lawrence, USN (1781-1813) 19th Century photograph of a portrait painted by Samuel Lovett Waldo in 1813, after Lawrence's command, USS Hornet, had captured HMS Peacock. The original painting was owned by Rear Admiral Charles S. Boggs, USN, a descendant of Lawrence. It was lost in a fire that destroyed Boggs's home on Staten Island. The photograph was donated by Julian Bowes during the 1930s or 1940s. It had previously been owned by James Lawrence Boggs, of Newark, New Jersey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 142KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 61180 Master Commandant James Lawrence, USN (1781-1813). Engraving after a painting by Alonzo Chappel, published during the mid-19th Century by Johnson, Fry & Company, New York. The print includes a facsimile of Lawrence's signature. Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 137KB; 470 x 765 pixels |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 48248 Master Commandant James Lawrence, USN (1781-1813) Stipple engraving by Rollinson, after Gilbert Stuart, published in the "Analectic Magazine", circa 1813. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 167KB; 460 x 765 pixels |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 48249 Captain James Lawrence, USN (1781-1813) Stipple engraving by David Edwin, after Gilbert Stuart, printed with a line engraving by Francis Kearny depicting HMS Peacock sinking after she was captured by USS Hornet, under Lawrence's command, on 24 February 1813. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 161KB; 405 x 765 pixels |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 48229 Captain James Lawrence, USN (1781-1813) Stipple engraving by David Edwin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1813. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 142KB; 510 x 765 pixels |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 1392 Captain James Lawrence, USN, Commanding Officer of USS Hornet and USS Chesapeake. Engraving of the medal authorized by the United States Congress in honor of Captain Lawrence's 24 February 1813 victory in the action between USS Hornet and HMS Peacock. The Congress ordered a gold version of the medal and requested that the President present it to his nearest male relative. A silver version was presented to each commissioned officer who served under him in Hornet. The engraving was published in Lossing's "Field Book, War of 1812", page 700. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 395 pixels |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 48244 Birthplace of Captain James Lawrence, USN (1781-1813) Photograph taken during the 1940s of the double house in Burlington, New Jersey, where James Lawrence was born on 1 October 1781. The author James Fenimore Cooper was born in the house on the left. Courtesy of the Public Information Office for the Department of Conservation and Economic Development, State of New Jersey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 167KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
 |
For pictures of Captain James Lawrence during his final
battle, see:
HMS Shannon
captures USS Chesapeake, 1 June 1813 -- Views on board
Chesapeake during the action.
| If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.Page made 15 March 2003
Links added 13 July 2003