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