Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-07-05
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

taptain James Lawrence.
Captain JAMES LAwRENcs, whose ma
timely, but glorious death, has spread .neh
dsep and Universal gloom over the co..
munuy, was born in the city of BuiIinr,ea
N A, The Period of his fate. he h.
reached his 32d year He received a l;h..
sl education IN one Of he best ssmens,;a.
OF his native state end afterwards eer
menced the study Of law, under The ruia
snee Of his brother, who was at that TIM
respectable member Of the profs ssien IT,.
ardent and enterprising mind Of our youns
hero could not long brock the seclusion sr3
confinement incident 10 .:nusly book, and
black letter research. lie had from ;nf.n.
cy fastened his affections upon The ter;ls :
honours of Tie ocean Amidst the stnd;s.
to which lie was reluctantly devoted. he 60.
c'etiy sighed to be engaged in bold and hsz.
ardous sdveniures; TO which the eouipani.
mliy OF his mind, and the vigour of his con.
stltut;on naturally adapted aud directed him.
IL was MOI without many struggles that he
WIS enabled TO unbosom bis fayo,il ite de,,e,
to few friends. Their opinions conceded
with ms ardent wishes. In conformity 10
Their suggestions and TO his own good sense
and reflection, be determined, az preptrsto,
ry 10 . eonie npia,eo purs,ll, 20 devote
h'mseli 20 The study Of the Clements of nav
igation'
His native talent and application, s,;mu.
lated by thirst Of fame, soon accomplished
more even than his friends had reason 10 e..
pec'. In The eighteenth year Of his age he
applied g. the government for station in
The Navy and such were The recommends.
tons which accompanied his application,
that the msil which carried it returned
with his warrant as inidshipmss. Il NAV be
really conceived thai 9uf young hero fei e.
motions of delight and induiged in sntcipa.
lions OF rapture in messing dis, to him, dar.
ling document TO his bosom. From the
moment of his receiving it 10 his lamented
death, be feit and acknowledged. thst his
services and his life belonged 10 his country.
How strnng and true this conviction wss
let his uBioit mate aud untimely fate bear
witness ~
Shortly Gf,er his entering the service Lis
zeal and ability attracted the notice of the
government. AT this period The Unhed
Slsle3 were engaged in war with Bad ~
power. Lawrence, who had perhaps pesN
inhsled the breath of Tie briny ocesr, VA
selected for the command of one Of those
periious gun boats which our Oldest sea.sst.
ersns would have hesis ed to conduct q.
ross lie Atlantic He cheeriully accepted
te appoini mcnt; and oy his skill end pru.
oence arrived safely IN the MediteranevLs
In conjunction with the present Co-fAse-
dore Decatur, and his lamented br c6en
who fell on the shores Of Tripoli, and Sipts
Stewart, Lieu. Lawrence shed lustrs on
the American name in this short and vIger.
Gus war. Afier ths, period he bad The
command of tie Vixen and subsequently
that of he Wasp, in which he c'rr'ed or
messengers and dispatches 10 France snd
England.
In The year 1903, he was married TO an g.
misble snd accomplished lady. the dsugier
Of respectable me Chant Of New.YoIk.
His death has beres,ed her and two sweet
infants Of sn sffec tionalc husband and father.
Since the present war, he sailed IN the
Hornet, IN company with Commodore Bsln~
o!idge, in tie Constitution, the circumstsn-
ces OF whose cruise are too recent and glorl-
Gus to need recspi,ulS,ion IN this brief srtl.
Gle. Il is, however, not improper 10 observe.
that IN the opinion of all naval chsracsees
he capture and destruction of the Pescdr
by Captain Lawrence, IS esteemed an IN,
stance of superior skill aud nautical manouv.
ering and practical gunery. IL was an a.
chiesement which will forever emblszon
the naval pillar of America.
1t is manifest, even from the sccoun,sot
me enemy. that in the last set Of his liie,
the loss OF the Chesapeake was owing more
% misfortune than 10 any superiority Oh
skill or bavery.
As commander, Capt Lawrence was
strict dloipiinsrisn; bur his discipline was
Jf that imposing character, which whlle
il comm nded obedience, extouted affection
ind respect lie was Of course universally
beloved by his officers and crew. In his
disposition there was p peculisr rlacidity
which added grace TO his sterner virtues
ti,s courage pariook not of the raging cats
rac,, but rather assembled the stfo,g ana
steady flowing Of majestic river. In pri-
vate life he was eadeai ed 10 all who knew
him. Long. long will me mory lrsce bis VIZ
tues and the ts4r of recollection mols'e'
his name - Boston Daily advertiser.