Middletown transcript., 1869-03-06
Biographical Shetth.
from Ne National Portrait Gallery.
THOMAS MACDONOUGH.

THOMAS MACDONOUGH.
This gallant officer was born at the vii
lage of MoDonoagh, in the county of New
Castle. in the State of Delaware, in De.
cember 1888. His father was a hysician
but inspired with love of liberty, he en-.
tered the army of the revolution as ma
Jor; ne did not however, remain long in
the service but returned to private life,
and his professional pursuits, until the
close of the war, when he was made q
Judge; in which Office he remained until
his death, which happened in 1895. He
left three sons. His eldest son, James.
was a midshipman under Truxton when
he took the Insurgent. In the battle he
was SO severely wounded, that there was
necessity for amputating his leg. He
soon afterw ards left the navy with the rep
utation of o brave officer, In 1898 the
subject of this memoir obtained a war
rant as midshipman and commenced his
career as naval officer. Those who were
acquainted with his early life, spoke Of
midshipman Macdonough, as young Off
Ger of great promise, but he had no op-
portunity Of being made known to the
public, until the country had the misfor-
tune of losing the frigate Philadelphia.
When the gallant Decatur proposed to
burn her, as she lay in possession of the
enemy, he selected Macdonough as one Of
the young officers, to accompany him in
that hazardous expedition and he reaped
an early harvest of honor in that daring
exploit, with his leader and others.
The Mediterranean has been the birth
place of MOI re naval regulations, than all
the waters Of the world beside, and it was
there too, that our navy displayed some of
those acts of valor and good conduct, which
were of Importance in themselves, and
were hailed as presages of future glories
for our country. When Macdonough was
first lieutenant of the Siren, under the
command of captain Smith, circumstance
occurred in the harbour of Gibralter, suf-
ticiently indicative of the firmness and de-
cision of his character. An American
merchant brig came to anchor near the
United States vessel, Macdonough, in
the absence of captain Smith, who had
gone on shore, saw q boat from British
frigate board the brig and take from her a
man; he instantly manned and armed his
gig, and pursued the British boat which
he overlook just as it reached the frigate,
and without ceremony took the imprisoned
man into his own boat. The frigate's boat
was twice the force of his own; but the act
was so bold as to astound the lieutenant
who commanded the press-gang, and no
raciskapoa x,dos oHa,o1 lNLo~ Al
was made known to the British captain he
came on boa ard the Siren in great rage
and inquired how he dared to take man
from on board his boat, Macdonough re-
piled, that the man was an American sea-
man, and was under the protection of the
flag of the United States, and that it was
his duty to protect him. The captain
with volley of oatbs, swore he would
bring his frigate alongside the Siren, and
sink her. This you may do" said Mac
donough, 'hut while she swims the man
you will not have" The English captain
told Macdonough that he was "a young
hair Drained fellow, and would repent Of
his rashness 'Supposing sir,' said
he, II had been in that boat, would you
dared to have committed such an act p
II should have made the attempt sir :"
was the reply. "What sir" said the En-
glish captain "would you venture to in
terfere, if were to impress men from that
brig?" "You have only to try it sir %
was the pithy answer The English Off
Ger returned to his ship, manned his boat
and made his way towards the brig; Mac
donough did the same-but there the af-
fair ended-the English boat took a cir
cuitous route and returned to the ship.
| There was such calmness in the conduct
of lieutenant Macdonough, such solemn
ity 10 his langauge, such o politeness in
his manner, that the British officer saw,
that he had to deal with no ordinary
man; and that it was not prudent to put
him on his metal.
In that garden of the world, the shores
| of the Mediterranean, where nations have
grown up and decayed, and others have
taken their places; where every thing is
marked with age, luxury, crime and temp
tation; and where many fine young Off
Ger has made shipwreck of his morals and
his health; Macdonough exhibited the
Spartan firmness. with christian virtues.
His bravery was never for moment
doubted, but be was so reserved, temperate
and circumspect, that the envious some-
times stroye tb bring him to their level,
and often were spares set for him but he
never was caught. His character was fair
and bright as the surface of steel mirror,
before it was brought to reflect any ray Of
glory upon himself or his country.
There is good share of sagacity in the
common sailor, he sees through charac-
ter much clearer than we generally think
he does; before Macdonough had been pro-
NOTED to a liehtenancy, he had the heart
Of every sailor who knew him. There are
few so ignora1tthat they cannot discover
moral worth, when connected with profess
sional ability (; and none SO bad as not to
approve Of It.
Il has been stated. andneyer questioned
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