vessel. He also recaptured the American brig "Ceiica," and this seasonable check to Moorish rapacity prevented further depredations upon American commerce by the Moors. On Bainbridge's arrival off Tripoli he gave chase to a Tripolitan corsair and struck on a rock, by which the "Philadelphia" was wrecked, and she was then surrounded by Tripolitan gun-boats and forced to surrender, not being able to use her guns. This happened on 1 Nov., 1804. The "Philadelphia" was floated off the rock by the Tripolitans and carried into the port of Tripoli, where she was afterward burned by Decatur. The first suggestion for destroying the "Philadelphia" is said to have been sent to Com. Preble in a letter from Bainbridge while he was a prisoner. Bainbridge and his officers and crew remained prisoners for nineteen months during the Tripolitan war, suffering many privations, and being subjected to all the dangers of the Are from the American fleet. When peace was restored and they obtained their liberty, a court of inquiry was held on Bainbridge, and he was acquitted of all blame for the loss of the "Philadelphia."
A short time after his return to the United States Bainbridge was ordered to command the navy-yard at New York ; but his embarrassed circumstances, owing to his long captivity, obliged him to obtain a furlough and once more enter the merchant service, where he continued until 1808. In anticipation of a war with England he was ordered back to the service in March, 1808, and in December was placed in command of the frigate " President," in which he sailed on a cruise in the following year. No war occurring, he again obtained a furlough, and proceeded on a voyage in a merchant ship to St. Petersburg. He continued in the merchant service until 1811, when, hearing that an engagement had taken place between the "President" ami the British ship-of-war "Little Belt," he left his ship at St. Petersburg and returned to the United States. In anticipation of the war with Great Britain the government had determined to lay up all the ships of the navy in ordinary; but, owing to the representations of Capts. Bainbridge and Stewart, this idea was abandoned. Bainbridge was now ordered to command the Charlestown navy-yard ; but on the declaration of war, 8 June, 1812, he solicited the command of a frigate, and his request was complied with by giving him command not only of the "Constitution," but of the frigate "Essex," Capt. David Porter, and the sloop "Hornet," Capt. James Lawrence. Bainbridge took the "Constitution" immediately after Hull arrived in her from his victory over the "Guerriere."
The "Constitution" parted company with the "Hornet" off St. Salvador on 26 Dec, 1812, and three days later fell in with the British frigate "Java," of 49 guns and upward of 400 men. After an action of one hour and fifty-five minutes the "Java" surrendered, having been completely dismantled and not having a single spar standing. Her loss was 60 killed and 101 wounded, while the "Constitution" lost but 9 killed and 25 wounded. Among the latter was Com. Bainbridge, who was struck twice during the engagement. The "Java" was blown up after the prisoners were removed. In his treatment of the prisoners Bainbridge was most magnanimous, and he received many acknowledgments for his kindness. On his return to the United States he was received with high honors and ordered to command the Charlestown navy-yard, where he laid the keel of the line-of-battleship "Independence." No squadron of equal strength ever sailed from any country and accomplished the results that the three historic vessels of Com. Bainbridge's command, the "Constitution," "Essex," and "Hornet" realized.
While Bainbridge was in command at Charlestown the British blockaded Boston harbor, and his views for the defence of that port encountered great opposition. Polities ran high, and the opposition party was indifferent with regard to the public property, which they said belonged to the administration, while the commodore insisted that it belonged to the nation and should be protected at all hazards. The governor and council of Massachusetts appointed a committee to consult with Bainbridge, and, on its presuming to dictate to him, he informed it that he should defend his command to the last extremity, let the consequences be what they might, and that if the citizens of Boston chose to make their Interests separate from those of the nation, the terrible consequences might fall where they deserved; to him, duty and honor dictated the course he should pursue. Great diversity of opinion existed in Massachusetts with regard to defending the harbors along the coast, and even Boston itself ; but, owing to Bainbridge's patriotic importunities and devoted zeal as an officer, sustained as he was by many eminent citizens of Boston, a proper system of defence was adopted and the danger was averted.
Com. Bainbridge was the first that advocated a board of commissioners for the navy. His long experience in naval concerns satisfied him that the administration of the navy could never be wisely conducted without a preponderance of professional men in connection and working in accord with the civil element. Shortly after the beginning of the war with Great Britain, war was declared against the United States by Algiers, and on the conclusion of peace with Great Britain congress declared war against the regency of Algiers and fitted out a large squadron under the command of Bainbridge, in 1815, to protect American commerce in the Mediterranean. Peace was soon settled honorably by Decatur, and at the same time Bainbridge brought the Bashaw of Tripoli to a sense of the resources of the United States, and exhibited his large force in all the ports. The only way in which peace could be maintained with these people, so faithless in regard to political obligations, was by operating on their fears. After making the necessary arrangements for the protection of American commerce in the Mediterranean, Bainbridge returned to the United States on 15 Nov., 1815. A month later the commodore established the first naval school (in the Boston yard) for officers, and in 1817 he was appointed one of a board to locate navy-yards. In October, 1819, the first board convened for the examination of young officers for promotion that had ever been assembled in the United States, under Bainbridge as presiding officer. In November of the same year he was ordered to the command of the new line-of-battle-ship "Columbus," and appointed to command the Mediterranean squadron. On his return to the United States after his cruise in 1821, he was ordered to the Philadelphia station, where his professional abilities were brought into play in fitting out the ship-of-the-line "North Carolina." In 1828 he was changed to the command of the Boston station, and soon afterward was appointed naval commissioner.
At the time of the difficulty between Decatur and Barron, Bainbridge was in Washington city, and acted as Decatur's second in the duel that led to his death and to Barron's being severely wounded. After severing his connection with the board of commissioners, Com. Bainbridge commanded several navy-yards, until in the latter part of his life
