Little-Known Facts About the First Barbary War-- Part 6: Henry Wadsworth

Henry Wadsworth

When Commodore Preble decided to send two fireships into the harbor of Tripoli to destroy pirate ships anchored there.  Among the men selected for this daring task was Henry Wadsworth, a 20-year-old acting lieutenant.  Preble made him second in command of one of the ships, the Interprid.

On the night of September 4, 1804, the USS Intrepid, now a fireship containing 100 barrels of gun powder, sailed into Tripoli Harbor, but, tragically, the Intrepid blew up before it could reach its target.

The entire crew, including Henry Wadsworth, were killed.

The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was named after his uncle, Henry Wadsworth.

--Cooter

Little Known Facts About the First Barbary War-- Part 3: Thomas Macdonough and Charles Morris

NAVAL HEROES:  Many naval men served, but four especially stand out.

Midshipman THOMAS MACDONOUGH who later was a hero in the War of 1812 for his role in the American victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh / Lake Champlain when his naval force destroyed the British fleet.

CHARLES MORRIS  who went on to serve as 1st lieutenant on the USS Constitution in its battle against the HMS Guerriere.  He was promoted to captain after this and later commanded the frigates USS Adams and Congress.

Next, James  Lawrence  --Cooter