Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Chauncey, Isaac

Naval officer; born

Isaac Chauncey.

in Black Rock, Conn., Feb: 20, 1772; in early life was in the merchant service,

Chauncey's monument.

[110] and commanded a ship at the age of nineteen years. He made several voyages to the East Indies in the ships of John Jacob Astor. In 1798 he was made a lieutenant of the navy, and was acting captain of the Chesapeake in 1802. He became master in May, 1804, and captain in 1806. During the War of 1812-15 he was in command of the American naval force on Lake Ontario, where he performed efficient service. After that war he commanded the Mediterranean squadron, and, with Consul Shaler, negotiated a treaty with Algiers. In 1820 he was naval commissioner in Washington, D. C., and again from 1833 until his death, in that city, Jan. 27, 1840. Commodore Chauncey's remains were interred in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, and at the head of his grave stands a fine white-marble monument, suitably inscribed.