Silas Duncan

Silas M. Duncan (178814 September 1834) was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.

Born in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, Duncan was appointed midshipman 15 November 1809. While third lieutenant of ''Saratoga'' during the Battle of Lake Champlain, 11 September 1814, he was sent in a gig to order the gunboats to retire. He succeeded in delivering the orders despite concentrated enemy fire which severely wounded him and caused the loss of his right arm. For his gallant conduct he was thanked by Congress. From 1818 to 1824 Commander Duncan saw active service on board ''Independence'', ''Hornet'', ''Guerriere'', , and ''Ferret''.

On February 3, 1831, he married Martha Dandridge Aylett, granddaughter of American patriot Patrick Henry, third-youngest of six daughters from among the 13 children of Philip Aylett, of King William County, Virginia.

In 1831, he commanded the ''Lexington'', which had been sent to reinforce the Brazil Squadron to protect American commerce, in part a response to Argentine proclamations on sealing and fishing in the South Atlantic. In July 1831, under orders from Luis Vernet (appointed Military and Civil Commander in the Falkland Islands by Buenos Aires), his deputy Matthew Brisbane seized the American vessels ''Superior'', ''Breakwater'' and ''Harriet'', charging them with sealing in the Falkland Islands in contravention of Vernet's regulations. Cawkell, 2001, pp. 55–56. The ''Breakwater'' escaped and the ''Superior'' was allowed to continue sealing on Vernet's terms. Vernet returned in the ''Harriet'' to Buenos Aires to arrange for a trial. After this seizure of American vessels the ''Lexington'' sailed for Port Louis to put an end to what was regarded by the US as a "nest of pirates". On 31 December 1831, the ''Lexington'' came to anchor off Port Louis, Brisbane and six others were arrested on charges of piracy, the guns of the settlement spiked and the powder magazine blown. Duncan also offered passage to any from the settlement that wished to leave, and the majority of the population took up this opportunity to leave the islands. The ''Lexington'' arrived in Montevideo on 3 February 1832, where those given passage were released, but Brisbane and six others remained as prisoners until 16 April, when they were transferred to the USS ''Warren''. Gurney, 2008, p. 117. Brisbane and the others were later released on the orders of Commodore Rodgers after the intervention of the British Chargé d'Affaires in Buenos Aires.

The incident caused a rupture in Argentine-US relations for many years, after Argentina expelled the US representative during the diplomatic row that followed. Although the log of the ''Lexington'' reports destruction of arms and a powder store, the remaining settlers later testified that there was great damage to private property.FitzRoy, R. 1839
Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle. Proceedings of the second expedition, 1831-36. Chapter XVIII.
/ref> Towards the end of his life, Luis Vernet authorised his sons to claim on his behalf for his losses stemming from the raid. In the case lodged against the US Government for compensation, rejected by the US Government of President Cleveland in 1885, Vernet claimed that the settlement was destroyed.

On 7 December 1832, the ARA ''Sarandí'' whilst on patrol around the Falkland Islands, encountered the American sealer ''The Sun'' under the command of T.P.Trott. After firing on ''The Sun'' and boarding her, the captain was ordered to quit the Falklands. Trott returned to Montevideo and addressed the American legation there seeking protection from an American warship. In Montevideo, Trott was instructed to return to the islands and to ignore the warning, whilst the USS ''Lexington'' was prepared to return to the islands and if necessary seize the ''Sarandí''. This second exhibition never took place, since during preparations the ''Sarandí'' was observed returning to Buenos Aires following the reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

He died in 1834 at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia.

Three ships have been named USS ''Duncan'' for him.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Silas
1788 births
1834 deaths
United States Navy officers
United States Navy personnel of the War of 1812
People from Rockaway Township, New Jersey
Military personnel from New Jersey