Commodore Thomas 'Hollywood' Truxton

Commodore Thomas 'Hollywood' Truxton

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of PENNSYLVANIA. DAR Ancestor # A116510

Thomas Truxtun (or Truxton) (February 17, 1755 - May 5, 1822) was an American naval officer who rose to the rank of commodore.

Born near Hempstead, New York on Long Island, Truxtun had little formal education before joining the crew of the British merchant ship Pitt at the age of twelve. By the time he was twenty, however, his talents had garnered him the command of his own vessel, the Andrew Caldwell. He operated as a privateer during the American Revolutionary War, commanding several ships: Congress, Independence, Mars and St. James. Truxtun was highly successful in capturing enemy ships during this period, not once suffering a defeat.

After the war he returned to the merchant marine, where he remained for twelve years, and in 1786 commanded one of the first American ships to engage in trade with China, the Canton, operating from Philadelphia.

Truxtun was appointed captain in the United States Navy in 1794, and during the Quasi-War with France was in command of the USS Constellation. Previously, he had overseen its construction with Silas Talbot, and, after a rank dispute, was placed in charge of the ship by President Washington. He was promoted to commodore and met with considerable success. His victories, perhaps most notably that over the French vessel L'Insurgente, made Truxtun a hero of the time.

During this period, however, Truxtun was involved in a dispute over rank with Richard Dale. Truxtun took command of the USS President for a few months in 1800, soon after retiring from the Navy and locating first in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and later in Philadelphia. He was offered command during the First Barbary War in 1801 but refused, settling firmly into retirement.

He ran an unsuccessful campaign for the United States House of Representatives in 1810, and in 1816 was elected sheriff of Philadelphia County, serving a four-year term. He also published several books, well-known at the time, covering navigation and naval tactics. He is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground.

Several Navy ships have since been named in his honor (see USS Truxtun), as was the town of Truxton, New York. Washington, D.C. once had a traffic circle, Truxton Circle, named after him; although the circle has been demolished, the nearby neighborhood retains his name. Truxton Park in the City of Annapolis, Maryland is named in his honor as well.

Info added per DARs "Lineage Book of the Charter Members" by Mary S Lockwood and published 1895 stating he was "commodore in the U.S. Navy. He commanded the "Independence" during the Was of the Revolution"

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Truxtun

Thomas Truxtun (or Truxton) (February 17, 1755 – May 5, 1822) was an American naval officer after the Revolutionary War, when he served as a privateer, who rose to the rank of commodore in the late eighteenth century.

Early life and education

Born near Hempstead, New York on Long Island, Truxtun had little formal education before joining the crew of the British merchant ship Pitt at the age of twelve.

Career

By the time he was twenty, however, Truxtun had garnered him the command of his own vessel, the Andrew Caldwell, because of his skills. He operated as a privateer during the American Revolutionary War, commanding several ships: Congress, Independence, Mars and St. James. Truxtun was highly successful in capturing enemy ships during this period, not once suffering a defeat.

After the war he returned to the merchant marine, where he remained for twelve years. In 1786 he commanded one of the first American ships to engage in trade with China, the Canton, operating from Philadelphia.

Truxtun was appointed captain in the United States Navy in 1794, and during the Quasi-War with France was in command of the USS Constellation. Previously, he had overseen its construction with Silas Talbot, and, after a rank dispute, was placed in charge of the ship by President Washington.

He was promoted to commodore and met with considerable success. His victories, perhaps most notably that over the French vessel L'Insurgente, made Truxtun a hero of the time. Consequently, he was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal on March 29, 1800, becoming the eighth recipient of that body’s "highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions."

During this period, Truxtun was involved in a dispute over rank with Richard Dale. Truxtun took command of the USS President for a few months in 1800, soon after retiring from the Navy and locating first in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and later in Philadelphia. He was offered command during the First Barbary War in 1801 but refused, settling firmly into retirement.

He ran an unsuccessful campaign for the United States House of Representatives in 1810. In 1816 was elected sheriff of Philadelphia County, serving a four-year term. He also published several books, well-known at the time, covering navigation and naval tactics.

He is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground.

Legacy and honors

Several Navy ships have since been named in his honor (see USS Truxtun).

The town of Truxton, New York was named for him.

Washington, D.C. once had a traffic circle, Truxton Circle, named after him. After it was demolished, the nearby neighborhood retains his name.
Truxtun Park in the City of Annapolis, Maryland is named in his honor.
Truxtun, in Portsmouth, Virginia, one of the first federally-funded planned communities in America was named for him. It was built shortly after World War I for African-American workers at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

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Biography

Birth: Feb. 17, 1755
Hempstead Nassau County New York, USA Death: May 5, 1822 Philadelphia Philadelphia County Pennsylvania, USA United States Naval Officer. Early American Naval Officer, one of the first six Captains appointed to that rank after the formation of the US Navy. First commanding officer of "USS Constellation". During the Quasi War with France, captured the Frigate "L'Insurgente". (bio by: Woodhill)

Family links: Spouse: Mary Fundran de Von Dreuil Truxtun (1759 - 1823)*

Children: Sarah Truxton Benbridge (1778 - 1865)* Mary Truxtun (1780 - 1793)* Elizabeth Truxtun Talbot (1782 - 1855)* Thomas Truxtun (1782 - 1802)* Evelina Truxtun Hammond (1785 - 1838)* Jane Truxtun (1785 - 1785)* Anna Maria Truxtun Henderson (1792 - 1857)* Mary Truxtun Swift (1794 - 1877)* Emily Truxton Beale (1798 - 1885)* Cornelia Truxtun Nancrede (1803 - 1848)* Gertrude Parker Truxton Houston (1804 - 1870)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Christ Church Burial Ground Philadelphia Philadelphia County Pennsylvania, USA

Sources

<references />

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7743451

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