Oliver H. Perry, U.S. Naval Officer

On September 10,1813 the newly formed United States had their first fleet victory over the British who had their first fleet loss off the shores of Presque Isle, Erie, Pennsylvania on Lake Erie.
Several hours after Commodore Perry engaged the British Navy in battle, his flagship LAWRENCE was reduced to a wreck. Undaunted, the young American commander carried his famous battle flag, “Don’t give up the ship,” and transferred to the undamaged brig, the NIAGARA. As depicted, the wind had freshened and the NIAGARA charged through the British line performing the classic naval maneuver of “crossing the T.” As shown, the H.M.S. QUEEN CHARLOTTE was fouled in the rigging of the H.M.S. DETROIT as they tried to maneuver out of the NIAGARA’s unrelenting cannon fire. The hulls and rigging of QUEEN CHARLOTTE and DETROIT were wrecked, Fifteen minutes after the NIAGARA’s first broadside, the Royal Navy surrendered.