Thomas Truxton (1755-1822)
Commodore & One of the Six Founding Captains of the U.S. Navy
He was born at Hempstead on Long Island, New York. His father (whose surname is sometimes spelled "Truxtun") died when he was seven and he was brought up in the family of his guardian, John Troup. At the age of twelve - against the wishes of his English-born father who had hoped he would purse a career in politics - he went to sea. Having briefly served in the Royal Navy, in 1768 he took command of his own merchant vessel which he had used to import gunpowder to Philadelphia but was seized by the British in 1775. The following year, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant on the Congress - the first privateer to be fitted out for service against the British. In command of several privateers during the course of the Revolution, he took prizes off Cuba and the Azores, and in the English Channel too. He also gave safe delivery of Thomas Barclay, the U.S. Consul to France, and landed much needed supplies of gunpowder. President George Washington declared that Truxton’s services had been equal to those of a regiment.
After the Revolution, he resumed his mercantile career and commanded Canton, the first ship from Philadelphia to enter the China trade. On the formation of the U.S. Navy in 1798, he was one of the first six commanders (Commodores) appointed by George Washington and was put command of USS Constellation for service in the West Indies in America's Quasi-War with France. In 1799, he famously captured L'Insurgente which was refitted for use in the U.S. Navy, and in the following year he took part in a hard-fought battle with La Vengeance. Replacing Stephen Decatur, he was given command of the USS President in 1800, remaining active in the West Indies. In 1802, after peace was declared with France he was ordered to take command of USS Chesapeake and at the same time he was appointed Squadron Commander of the Tripolitan Expedition that was to leave for service in the Mediterranean. But, through a misunderstanding caused by his request to have a captain appointed to command his flagship Chesapeake, Truxton's unintended resignation from the Navy was accepted in Washington, mistakenly ending his career.
Back on land, Truxton wrote a book on celestial navigation - he was among the very few men of his day who possessed such intimate knowledge of this navigational art. He also designed the original Navy signal manual and wrote the predecessor to the Navy Regulations that are in use today. Commodore Truxton also finally fulfilled his father's original wish and spent the rest of his life involved with local politics. Although he was unsuccessful in his attempt to win a seat at Congress (1810) as a Federalist, he was elected as a Sheriff of Philadelphia in 1816. He died there having had twelve children (listed) and since 1842 no less than six U.S. Navy warships have been named in his honor.
After the Revolution, he resumed his mercantile career and commanded Canton, the first ship from Philadelphia to enter the China trade. On the formation of the U.S. Navy in 1798, he was one of the first six commanders (Commodores) appointed by George Washington and was put command of USS Constellation for service in the West Indies in America's Quasi-War with France. In 1799, he famously captured L'Insurgente which was refitted for use in the U.S. Navy, and in the following year he took part in a hard-fought battle with La Vengeance. Replacing Stephen Decatur, he was given command of the USS President in 1800, remaining active in the West Indies. In 1802, after peace was declared with France he was ordered to take command of USS Chesapeake and at the same time he was appointed Squadron Commander of the Tripolitan Expedition that was to leave for service in the Mediterranean. But, through a misunderstanding caused by his request to have a captain appointed to command his flagship Chesapeake, Truxton's unintended resignation from the Navy was accepted in Washington, mistakenly ending his career.
Back on land, Truxton wrote a book on celestial navigation - he was among the very few men of his day who possessed such intimate knowledge of this navigational art. He also designed the original Navy signal manual and wrote the predecessor to the Navy Regulations that are in use today. Commodore Truxton also finally fulfilled his father's original wish and spent the rest of his life involved with local politics. Although he was unsuccessful in his attempt to win a seat at Congress (1810) as a Federalist, he was elected as a Sheriff of Philadelphia in 1816. He died there having had twelve children (listed) and since 1842 no less than six U.S. Navy warships have been named in his honor.
