BAINBRIDGE, William, American naval officer: b. Princeton, N. J., 7 May 1774; d. 28 July 1833. He entered the merchant service at the age of 15 and became captain within four years. In 1796, while commander of the Hope he defeated an English schooner, whose captain had tried to impress some of the Hope's crew. In 1798, when the United States navy was or ganized, he was made lieutenant and given com mand of the schooner Retaliation. He was captured by the French and kept a prisoner for several months, and on his return to the United States made a report which led to the passage of the Retaliation Act of 1798 against French subjects captured on the high seas; was placed in command of the Norfolk and subsequently appointed to the command of the frigate George Washington, which was ordered to take tribute to Algiers. The Dey of Algiers demanded that Bainbridge convey an Algerian ambassador and valuable presents to Constantinople, and Bain bridge was forced to comply to avoid war and the destruction of the unprotected trade in the Mediterranean. The United States government fully approved the course he had pursued. He was soon employed in the Mediterranean again in command of the frigate Essex, and after ward upon the declaration of war against the United States by Tripoli, was appointed to the frigate Philadelphia, one of the vessels of the squadron sent against that power, under the command of Commodore Edward Preble. On 26 Aug. 1803, he captured the Moorish frigate Meshboa, but was himself taken prisoner with his officers and men in October of that year. While pursuing one of the enemy's vessels, the Philadelphia ran aground; every possible effort was made to float her, but she was soon sur rounded by gunboats from Tripoli, about three miles distant, and Captain Bainbridge was com pelled to surrender, having first taken such measures as it was thought would ensure the final loss of the ship. He remained with his
associate prisoners in Tripoli until the conclu sion of peace, which took place 3 June 1805. On his return a court of inquiry for the loss of the Philadelphia gave him honorable acquit tal. His next service afloat was in the War of 1812, when he was appointed, with the rank of commodore, to the command of a. squadron, consisting of the Constitution (his flagship), Essex and Hornet, and sailed from Boston 25 October for a cruise. On 26 December off San Salvador, while separated from the rest of his squadron, it was his good fortune to fall in with and capture H. B. M. frigate Java. In 1815 he was appointed to the command of a squadron of 20 sail, intended to act against Al giers, then at war with us, but peace was con cluded before it reached the Mediterranean. In 1819 he again commanded in the Mediter ranean, and returned from this, his last service afloat, in 1821. From this time until his death he was almost constantly employed in import ant shore service, commanding at different times the navy yards at Boston and Philadel phia, and holding the position of president of the board of navy commissioners from 1832 to 1833. As an officer he had few superiors. Though ardent in his temperament, he was cool in danger, and always had the confidence of those under his command. His system of dis cipline, though rigid, was always consistent and just, and he was remarkable for paying the greatest attention to the formation of his young officers. Consult Cooper, 'Lives of Distin guished American Naval Officers' (2 vols., Au burn 1846); Harris, (Life of Bainbridge' (Philadelphia 1837).