Edward Trenchard Edward Trenchard ( 1785 – 1824 ) was a captain of the United States Navy , who saw service in the Quasi - War with France , the First Barbary War , the War of 1812 , and the Second Barbary War . He was the father of Rear Admiral Stephen Decatur Trenchard . Biography . Early life and background . Trenchard was born in Salem , New Jersey , the son of Curtis Trenchard . The family were descendants of George Trenchard ( 1655 – 1712 ) from the village of Wolverton in Dorset , who had come to America with William Penn in 1682 . Edward ' s grandfather , also George , ( 1706 – 1780 ) , was the Attorney - General of West New Jersey in 1767 - 1775 and commanded the Salem Light Horse during the Revolutionary War . Edward was initially apprenticed as an engraver under his uncle , James Trenchard , the editor of the " Columbian Magazine " , and a distinguished designer and an engraver of book - plates . However , a sea voyage to England at the age of 16 turned his mind to a military career , and on his return , he obtained a midshipman ' s warrant on April 30 , 1800 . War service . He was appointed to the frigate for a cruise in the West Indies during the Quasi - War with France . A strong friendship sprang up between Trenchard and a junior lieutenant , Stephen Decatur , so much so that Trenchard later named his son , Stephen Decatur Trenchard . After the French war the " Adams " was ordered to the Mediterranean , and participated in the operations off Tripoli in 1803 . The following year Trenchard was transferred to the seeing more action off Tripoli , and when his ship was fired upon by the Spanish batteries near the Strait of Gibraltar on September 21 , 1805 . Trenchard served aboard the in the Home Squadron from 1806 to 1810 , and was assigned to duty at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1811 . On August 30 , 1812 , he was ordered to Sacketts Harbor on Lake Ontario , to supervise the building of the sloop by Henry Eckford . The building of " Madison " progressed with extraordinary speed , the 500 - ton ship being launched on November 26 . Trenchard assumed command of the " Madison " with the rank of Master Commandant and took part in the naval operations on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812 . Trenchard fell ill with " lake fever " ( the " Madison " at one time having eighty of her two hundred men on the sick list ) and on July 21 , 1813 , left the ship to recuperate . On May 15 , 1814 , he rejoined the ship , taking part in the blockade of Kingston , Ontario , in September 1814 . After the end of the war he commanded the frigate , and took part in the operations off Algiers , Tripoli , and Tunis , during the Second Barbary War of 1815 . Africa Squadron . In 1820 Trenchard was placed in command of the 20 - gun sloop - of - war of the Africa Squadron on anti - slavery operations off the west coast of Africa . His officers included Matthew C . Perry , Silas Stringham , and William Mervine , who all went on to distinguished navy careers . " Cyane " had not long been on station when on April 10 , she captured two brigs and five schooners close in shore near the mouth of the River Gallinos . The officers and crew of the captured vessels were sent to the United States . However malaria and yellow fever , endemic in West Africa , took a heavy toll on the crew of " Cyane " . On April 20 , Trenchard reported that thirty - six of his men were on the sick - list . In response " Cyane " was ordered home , and the replaced her . On his return to the United States , Trenchard was assigned to duty in the Brooklyn Navy Yard , but his health had been irrevocably damaged ; he died in 1824 .