Naval officer; born in
Derby, Conn., March 9, 1775; nephew of
Gen. William Hull; when nineteen years old he commanded a merchant ship which sailed to
London; entered the navy as lieutenant in 1798, and rose to captain in 1806.
He was in the
Constitution, and distinguished himself in the
West Indies and in the Mediterranean.
He sailed in the
Constitution in July, 1812, and had a remarkable chase by a British squadron (see
U. S. S. Constitution). In August he encountered the
Guerriere, and made her a captive.
For this exploit Congress voted him a gold medal.
Afterwards he was a naval commissioner, and commodore of the navy-yards at
Boston,
Portsmouth, and
Washington.
He served in the
American navy, afloat and ashore, thirty-seven years, and died in
Philadelphia, Feb. 13, 1845.
His remains rest in
Laurel Hill Cemetery, and over them is a beautiful altar-tomb of
Italian marbleāa copy of the tomb of
Scipio Barbatus at
Rome.
It is chastely ornamented, and surmounted by an American eagle, in the attitude of defending the national flag, upon which it stands.