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Oliver Hazard Perry is born
Oliver Hazard Perry was born on August 23, 1785. He was born in South Kingston, Rhode Island. His dad was Christopher Perry, a US naval officer during the Revolutionary War. Oliver Hazard Perry grew up with an older brother, Mathew. -
MIdshipman on father's ship
Thirteen-year-old Oliver Hazard Perry was a midshipman on his father’s ship. On this ship he learned about the day-to-day duties of a sailor. Also while on the ship, Oliver was deeply impressed by his father’s courage, patriotism, and honor. These values became deeply rooted in Oliver Perry’s life. -
Began service on "Adams"
Oliver Hazard Perry began his service on a small frigate called Adams in 1802. Soon after he began his service on the Adams, he was sent to the Mediterranean Sea to prevent the Barbary States from sabotaging commerce in that region. While in the Mediterranean Sea, Oliver Hazad Perry was promoted to lieutenant. At age 17 he was the youngest in US Naval history to become a lieutenant. -
Perry's illness
In June of 1810 Oliver Hazard Perry’s new vessel, the Revenge suffered severe damage while Perry was traveling to South Carolina. On top of that, he came down with an illness that deemed him useless until he recovered from it. Because of the illness, Perry was transferred away from the sea. -
Marriage
On May 5, 1811 Oliver Hazard Perry married twenty year old Elizabeth Champlin Mason. The marriage was held in Newport, Rhode Island. Oliver Hazard Perry first met Elizabeth at a dance 4 years earlier and their marriage was considered a happy one. -
Assigned to a new command
Oliver Hazard Perry finally got employed after his illness in May of 1812 in lieu of the War of 1812. He was assigned to command a squadron of gunboats in Newport and was very dissatisfied. He continually petitioned the US Naval Department for a better post at sea. -
New job
After petitioning a longtime friend, Isaac Chauncey, Oliver Hazard Perry received a more satisfying post. He became commander of the US Naval forces on Lake Erie, as Isaac Chauncey needed an experienced officer to oversee a flotilla that was under construction. While it was not his first choice of posts, it was better than staying in Newport. -
Fort George
Oliver Hazard Perry voluntarily traveled to help Isaac Chauncey at British Fort George. Perry planned the landing of troops at Fort George which resulted in the capture of the fort. Perry also demonstrated his military prowess by taking five damaged British ships and refurbishing them. This resulted in a 35% addition in viability to Perry’s fleet. -
Construction of fleet is finished
Oliver Hazard Perry completed the construction of his fleet on Lake Erie. He also engineered a way to lift two 250 ton brigs over a previously impassable sandbar. Before his vessels were rigged or armed Perry once again used his military mastermind to bluff the British Navy and scare them away. -
Battle of Lake Erie
After many months of preparing, battle with British commander Robert Barclay on Lake Erie finally came. During the course of the battle, the brig that Perry was on was destroyed so he ordered a small boat to transfer him and others to another brig. Perry then used the new brig that he was on, the USS Niagara, to turn the tide of the battle and win. -
Battle of the Thames
Oliver Hazard Perry ferried William Henry Harrison’s army to Canada. He took the army to a battle now known as the Battle of the Thames. After the US army won that battle, Oliver Hazard Perry was hailed as a hero and promoted to Captain. -
Perry takes command of new vessel again
In July of 1814, Perry was given command of a new frigate, the USS Java, at a fort in Baltimore. The USS Java was under construction at the time and Perry was afraid he would have to burn it to prevent the British from capturing it. Perry wanted to finish the construction of the ship by the war’s end but he would not finish it until after the war ended. -
Duel
Two years after Oliver Hazard Perry had a mishap with Marine Officer John Heath, Heath challenged Perry to a duel. The duel was held on October 19, 1817 and was at the same place where Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton. During the duel, Heath fired first and missed his shot and honor was satisfied when Oliver Hazard Perry refused to shoot Heath. -
Diplomatic trip
In June of 1819, President Monroe sent Oliver Hazard Perry on an important diplomatic mission in Venezuela. He sailed on the US John Adams to the mouth of the Orinoco River in Venezuela. He then carried his flag to the USS Nonsuch, which would take him to the capitol of Venezuela. It was said that Yellow Fever was an issue there. -
Death
In August, Oliver Hazard Perry came down with Yellow Fever. He woke up on August 17 with chills and a fever, large signs of Yellow Fever. His condition then rapidly deteriorated and his crew tried to bring Perry to the Port of Spain for recovery. At 3:00 PM on August, 23, Perry’s birthday, he was pronounced dead. He was just a few miles from the Port of Spain when he died.
