HULL, Isaac, American commodore: b. Derby, Conn., 9 March 1773; d. Philadelphia, 13 Feb. 1843. He commenced his career in the merchant service, and was commissioned as lieu tenant in the navy at the commencement of hos tilities with France in 1798. In 1800, when first lieutenant of the Constitution, he cut out a French privateer from under a strong battery in the harbor of Port Plate, San Domingo. Dur ing the war with Tripoli (1802-05) Hull served with distinction in the squadrons of Commo dores Preble and Barron, in command of the schooner Nautilus and brig Argus, participating in the several attacks on the city of Tripoli in July, August and September 1804 and subse quently co-operating with General Eaton in the capture of the city of Derne. In May 1804 he was promoted to the rank of master com mandant, and in April 1806 to that of captain.
At the opening of the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain he was in com mand of the frigate Constitution, and in July of that year, while cruising off New York, fell in with a British squadron, which chased the Constitistion closely for nearly three days and nights. The wind was light and baffling, but Hull handled his vessel with superior seaman ship and finally escaped without injury; at one time he resorted to a novel and successful ex pedient; the boats were lowered, and all the spare rope on board was bent to a kedge anchor which was carried out nearly a mile ahead and let go. The ship was warped up to this kedge,
which was weighed while another was carried out. In this way she left her pursuers before they discovered the manner in which it was done. After this remarkable escape, Hull went into Boston for a few days, whence he sailed 3 August, and 19 August met the English frigate Guerriere, which after a short conflict he re duced to a complete wreck and forced the Eng lish to surrender. (See CONSTITUTION, THE). As this was the first naval action of the war, it was regarded as a very important one; Captain Hull was enthusiastically received, and Con gress at its next session presented him with a gold medal. After the war his principal serv ices were in command of the navy yards at Bos ton and Washington, of the squadrons in the Pacific and Mediterranean, and as a member of the board of navy commissioners.