Jonathan Meredith (about 1772 – August 7, 1805) was a
United States Marine
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
during the
First Barbary War
The First Barbary War (1801–1805), also known as the Tripolitan War and the Barbary Coast War, was a conflict during the Barbary Wars, in which the United States and Sweden fought against Tripolitania. Tripolitania had declared war against Sw ...
.
Biography
Born in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Bucks County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Doylestown. The county is named after the Englis ...
, Meredith enlisted in the Marine Corps June 6, 1803 and was promoted to
Sergeant
Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
August 1, of the same year.
During an engagement in the harbor of
Tripoli
Tripoli or Tripolis may refer to:
Cities and other geographic units Greece
*Tripoli, Greece, the capital of Arcadia, Greece
* Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece
* Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in ...
August 3, 1805, Sergeant Meredith saved the life of
Lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
John Trippe
John Trippe (1785 – 9 July 1810) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France and the First Barbary War.
Biography
Born in Dorchester County, Maryland, Trippe was appointed a midshipman in the Navy on 5 April 179 ...
of
USS ''Vixen'', who with a party of nine men had boarded a Tripolitan ship. Heavily outnumbered, the boarding party fought a fierce hand-to-hand combat, in which Trippe was severely wounded; Meredith protected him from what would have been the final blow. Four days later Meredith was killed in the explosion of Gunboat No. 3 during a similar attack against the Tripolitans.
Namesakes
See
USS ''Meredith'' for ships that have been named in his honor.
See also
References
:
External links
history.navy.mil: USS ''Meredith''
United States Marines
People from Bucks County, Pennsylvania
American people of Welsh descent
1772 births
1805 deaths
American military personnel of the First Barbary War
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