to Europe with his family, and continued abroad two years. Upon his return, he was employed on various courts-martial, and other duties, for about 12 months. He was then appointed to the command of the line-of-battle-ship Ohio, and of the Mediterranean squadron; which cruise lasted nearly three years. Commodore Hull, finding his health to have become seriously impaired by the unremitted and arduous duties which he had been called upon to perform, asked for, and had granted to him, an unconditional leave of absence from the naval service. He established himself in the city of Philadelphia in the month of October 1842. And he died here on the 13th of February 1843. He was ever exemplary in the performance of his private, as of his public duties; and the modesty, amiability, and courtesy, of his intercourse with others, as strikingly characterized him as did his self-possession and intrepidity in danger.
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY.
Oliver Hazard Perry, a distinguished American naval officer, was
born at Newport, Rhode Island, in August, 1785. His father was an
officer in the United States navy, and he was early destined to follow his
father's profession. In 1798, he entered the service as a midshipman on
board the sloop of war General Greene, then commanded by his father;
and, when that vessel went out of commission, he was transferred to a
squadron destined to the Mediterranean. He served during the Tripolitan
war, and, though debarred, by his extreme youth, from an opportunity of
distinguishing himself, he acquired, by his conduct, the regard and favor
of his superior officers, and the friendship and esteem of his associates.
Continuing sedulously attentive to his profession, he rose with sure and
regular steps. In 1810, he was attached, as lieutenant-commandant, to
the squadron of commodore Rodgers, at New London, and employed in
cruising in the sound, to enforce the embargo act. In the following spring,
he had the misfortune to be wrecked on Watch Hill reef, opposite Stonington,
in consequence of having become enveloped in a thick mist, which
prevented all possibility of ascertaining his course. By his intrepidity
and coolness, however, he succeeded, in a great measure, in saving the
guns and property, and got off all his crew. He was examined before a
court of inquiry, at his own request, in relation to the loss, and not merely
acquitted of all blame, but highly applauded for his conduct. He also
received a very complimentary letter, on the occasion, from the secretary
of the navy, Mr. Hamilton. Soon after this event, he returned to Newport,
where he married the daughter of doctor Mason.
In the beginning of 1812, he was promoted to the rank of master and commander, and ordered to the command of the flotilla of gun-boats stationed at the harbor of New York. After remaining there a year, he grew tired of the irksome and inglorious nature of this service, and solicited to be removed to another of a more active kind. His request was complied with; and, as he had mentioned the lakes, he was ordered to repair to Sacket's Harbor, lake Ontario, with a body of mariners, to reinforce commodore Chauncey. Such was his popularity amongst the sailors under his command, that, as soon as the order was known, almost all of them volunteered to accompany him. The rivers being completely frozen at the time, he was obliged, at the head of a large number of chosen
