William Eaton (23 February 1764
[Prentiss, p. 10] – 1 June 1811
[Macleod, Julia H., Wright, Louise B. ''William Eaton's Relationship with Aaron Burr.'' The Mississippi Valley Historical Review, Vol. 31, No. 4. 1945]) was a
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
officer and the diplomatic officer
Consul General
A consul is an official representative of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, as well as to facilitate trade and friendship between the people ...
to
Tunis
''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois
, population_note =
, population_urban =
, population_metro = 2658816
, population_density_km2 =
, timezone1 = CET
, utc_offset1 ...
(1797–1803). He played an important diplomatic and military role in 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 ...
between the United States and
Tripoli (1801–1805). He led the first foreign United States military victory at the
Battle of Derne by capturing the Tripoli subject city of
Derne in support of the restoration of the
pasha
Pasha, Pacha or Paşa ( ota, پاشا; tr, paşa; sq, Pashë; ar, باشا), in older works sometimes anglicized as bashaw, was a higher rank in the Ottoman political and military system, typically granted to governors, generals, dignitar ...
(local monarch), Hamet Caramelli.
[Adams, p. 430] William Eaton also gave testimony at the treason trial of former
Vice President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...
Aaron Burr.
[Wheelan, Joseph]
''Jefferson's Vendetta: The Pursuit of Burr and the Judiciary''
Carroll and Graf. 2005
He served one term in the
General Court of Massachusetts
The Massachusetts General Court (formally styled the General Court of Massachusetts) is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, w ...
(
state legislature). Eaton died on June 1, 1811, at the age of forty-seven.
Early life
William Eaton was born in
Woodstock
Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held during August 15–18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, United States, southwest of the town of Woodstock. Billed as "an Aq ...
,
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...
. He was one of thirteen children of Nathaniel and Sarah (née Johnson) Eaton. His father was a
middle class
The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Com ...
farmer, who worked as a school teacher in the winter, "an employment for which he is represented as having been well qualified by more than ordinary means for a farmer".
[Sparks, Jared. ''The Library of American Biography'', Vol. IX. Hillard Gray and Company. 1838] When he was ten years old, William's family moved to
Mansfield, Connecticut. He ran away at the age of sixteen to enlist in the army.
[Prentiss, p. 11] He joined the
Continental Army in 1780 and served until 1783, attaining the rank of
sergeant at the age of 19.
He earned money for college working as a school teacher in
Windsor
Windsor may refer to:
Places Australia
* Windsor, New South Wales
** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area
* Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
**Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
, Vermont. In 1790, he graduated from
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native ...
. He and a classmate presented a poetic dialogue at the commencement.
Between 1791 and 1792, he worked as a clerk in the
lower house of the
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
legislature
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
[Adams, p. 429]
In 1792, Eaton accepted a captain's
commission in the
Legion of the United States
The Legion of the United States was a reorganization and extension of the Continental Army from 1792 to 1796 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne. It represented a political shift in the new United States, which had recently adopte ...
and began training at
Legionville
Legionville (or Legion Ville) was the first formal basic training facility for the military of the United States. The camp, which was established in winter 1792 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne, was near present-day Baden, Pennsyl ...
(
Baden, Pennsylvania
Baden is a borough in southeastern Beaver County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,912 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Baden is the former site of Logstown, a significant Native America ...
). He also married Eliza, the widow of General
Timothy Danielson
Timothy Danielson (1733–1791) was the third son of John and Margaret (Mughill) Danielson. He graduated from Yale in 1756. He was a teacher, merchant, soldier, and public official from Massachusetts. During the American Revolution, he served in t ...
. In 1795, Eaton faced
court-martial for charges resulting in a "misunderstanding" between himself and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Gaither.
[Prentiss, p. 22] For the charges, which included those of profiteering and "liberating from confinement"
[Prentiss, p. 36] a murder suspect, Eaton was sentenced to two months' suspended commission. Despite the conviction, Eaton held his commission until July 11, 1797, when he was appointed U.S. Consul at
Tunis
''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois
, population_note =
, population_urban =
, population_metro = 2658816
, population_density_km2 =
, timezone1 = CET
, utc_offset1 ...
.
[Prentiss, p. 54] He served at that post until war with Tripoli broke out in 1801.
Other sources say he left the consul post in 1803.
[The Encyclopedia Americana. ''Derne Expedition''. 1918]
Tunis (1799–1803)
![William Eaton](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/William_Eaton.jpg)
Eaton's main task in Tunis was to negotiate peace and trade agreements with the
bey
Bey ( ota, بك, beğ, script=Arab, tr, bey, az, bəy, tk, beg, uz, бек, kz, би/бек, tt-Cyrl, бәк, translit=bäk, cjs, пий/пек, sq, beu/bej, sh, beg, fa, بیگ, beyg/, tg, бек, ar, بك, bak, gr, μπέης) is ...
(governor).
During the nineteenth century, European and American merchant ships were under threat by pirates from what was called "
The Barbary Coast". The Barbary Coast was made up of several
Muslim states, under the rule of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
, that bordered the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ...
in Northern Africa. They acquired revenue from raiding merchant vessels of their cargo, ransoming their crews or selling them into
slavery
Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
. The European nations opted to pay tribute to the Barbary states to prevent such raids. After the
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...
, the United States was left without Britain's protection in Mediterranean, thus the
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
and
Adams administrations chose paying tribute to the Barbary states as a cost-effective alternative to military action.
[Kelly, Jack]
''Kill the Pirates''
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 2009. Retrieved on March 31, 2010
By 1796, the United States was behind in payments to the
dey
Dey (Arabic: داي), from the Turkish honorific title ''dayı'', literally meaning uncle, was the title given to the rulers of the Regency of Algiers (Algeria), Tripoli,Bertarelli (1929), p. 203. and Tunis under the Ottoman Empire from 1671 o ...
of
Algiers. In 1797,
Joel Barlow
Joel Barlow (March 24, 1754 – December 26, 1812) was an American poet, and diplomat, and politician. In politics, he supported the French Revolution and was an ardent Jeffersonian republican.
He worked as an agent for American speculator Wil ...
, United States Consul to Algiers, negotiated with the dey and promised him a frigate, at the cost of nearly one million dollars. He then sent a French merchant, Joseph Stephen Famin, to negotiate with the bey of Tunis. An agreement was reached, but
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
would not
ratify it. United States
President John Adams appointed William Eaton as Consult to Tunis to negotiate more agreeable terms.
[Lyman, Theodore. ''The Diplomacy of the United States'', Vol 2. Wells and Lilly. Boston. 1828][''United States and the Barbary States''. Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 6. 1860] It took two years to accomplish the task. In that time, as the demands of Algiers and Tripoli increased, Eaton had come to believe that it was better to use military force to secure trade in the region, than to continually pay tribute. He wrote an impassioned letter to the
Secretary of State,
James Madison
James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for h ...
, voicing the opinion that, "The more you give the more the Turks will ask for."
Jack Kelly, of the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', also known simply as the PG, is the largest newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Descended from the ''Pittsburgh Gazette'', established in 1786 as the first newspaper published west of the Alle ...
, wrote in the a 2009 article, ''Kill The Pirates'', that
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...
favored an international military intervention to the payment of tribute. Kelly said that Jefferson was unable to convince Europe to take such a course. When he became president of the United States, in 1801, he refused to pay tribute to Tripoli.
The
Atlantic Monthly (1860), called the belief that the United States was the first to refuse tribute to the Barbary pirates a "patriotic delusion".
The article, flouting what it called "the popular view"
of events said, "The money question between the President and the pasha was simply one of amount".
It went on to say that Jefferson was motivated in his actions toward Tripoli by pressure from powerful merchants.
The pasha of Tripoli,
Yusef Caramelli (sometimes referred to as Caramelli or Karamanli),
responded to the lack of payment by declaring war on the United States.
Tunis was the closest neighbor to Tripoli and the deposed pasha of Tripoli, Hamet Caramelli, was exiled there. He was, in fact, the elder brother of the reigning pasha, Yusuf Caramelli. William Eaton devised a plan in which the United States would support the restoration of Hamet Caramelli as pasha thereby creating fear of the U.S. within the rest of the Muslim world.
He borrowed $22,000 to support the plan, but at this point did not receive the backing of the U.S. government. While the demands for tribute from the bey of Tunis continued, Eaton refused to convey the demands to the United States. He requested that he be recalled, as he felt he could no longer negotiate with the bey. In addition, a U.S. fleet, under the command of
Commodore Richard Morris, had recently captured a Tunisian vessel that was headed for Tripoli. Morris came ashore in Tunis to visit Eaton and was arrested for Eaton's debt of $22,000. Eaton borrowed the money to pay the debt from the French Consul-General. At that point the bey ordered him to leave Tunis, which he did in the company of Morris.
Hamet Caramelli, having failed at his attempt to regain Tripoli, fled to
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
.
The war with Tripoli and the Battle of Derne
Eaton returned to the Barbary region in 1804, this time on a military mission. It had taken months for word of Tripoli's declaration of war on the United States to reach President Jefferson, but he had already sent naval forces to the Barbary Coast because William Eaton had informed him that the situation in Tripoli was "nearing a breaking point."
[Tucker, Spencer. ''Stephen Decatur: A Life Most Bold and Daring''. Naval Institute Press. 2005] Among the vessels that were sent was the
USS ''Philadelphia'' which, in October, 1803, under the command of
Captain William Bainbridge, was sent to blockade Tripoli. The frigate ran aground off the coast of Tripoli and was captured along with its crew of 306 men.
[Adams, p. 138] Bainbridge had failed to scuttle the ship before being captured, but
Stephen Decatur, commander of the
USS ''Intrepid'', in a covert mission, destroyed the ''Philadelphia'' by burning it, to prevent Tripoli from using it.
In May 1804, Eaton was given the commission of a navy lieutenant and sent back to the Barbary regencies, under the supervision of
Commodore James Barron, to find Hamet Caramelli and enlist his cooperation in the war.
Eaton found Caramelli in
Alexandria
Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandri ...
and signed an agreement with him,
although it is unclear if he had the authority to do so.
This contract, which was forwarded to Secretary of State Madison, specified that the United States would provide cash, ammunition and provisions for Ahmed Caramelli's re-installation as pasha.
[Lambert, Frank. ''The Barbary Wars''. Hill and Wang. 2005] It also designated William Eaton as "General and
Commander in Chief" of the land forces that were to be used to carry out the operation.
The agreement defined the relationship between Caramelli and Eaton as well as their mission, but was never ratified by the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
.
The Americans included eight marines and two navy midshipmen. It was with that force that Eaton and Caramelli made the 600 mile trek from Alexandria to Derne, a coastal city within the realm of Tripoli. By the time the band had reached the
Gulf of Bomba
The Gulf of Bomba, is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya. It lies about 40 miles (64 km) east of Derna, Libya, Derna (or Derne) at 32 degrees 38 minutes North Latitude, 23 degrees 07 minutes East Longitud ...
, they had eaten their last rations and the Arab factions were on the verge of
mutiny. Eaton had written to Captain
Isaac Hull of the
USS ''Argus'' requesting that the ship meet them there with supplies, but when they arrived on April 15, there was no ship to be seen. The next day, however, the ''Argus'' appeared as Hull had seen the smoke from their fires. After resupplying, they continued their journey, and on April 27, 1805, Eaton's forces attacked and took control of Derne.
"
Captain Presley O'Bannon of the
U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag for the first time over a conquered foreign city."
At the
Battle of Derne, one marine was killed and two were wounded. Eaton was wounded in the left wrist.
Twice Yusef Caramelli's forces tried and failed to take back the city. With the bey of Derne on the run and Hamet Caramelli reestablished in Derne, Eaton thought to march toward Tripoli. He requested reinforcements from Barron but instead received word that US Consul-General
Tobias Lear
Tobias Lear (September 19, 1762 – October 11, 1816) was the personal secretary to President George Washington. Lear served Washington from 1784 until the former-President's death in 1799. Lear's journal details Washington's final moments and his ...
was negotiating peace with Yusef Caramelli. Then he received word from Lear himself that he was to surrender Derne as peace had been reached on June 4.
The terms of the treaty required the US to pay $60,000 for the release of the crew of the ''Philadelphia.'' Hamet Caramelli and his entourage of about 30 were allowed to leave, but his wife and family were held captive until 1807, as provided in the treaty.
Aftermath
Although Eaton returned to the United States to a hero's welcome, he was disappointed and embittered by the treaty and outraged that ransom had to be paid for the freeing of the hostages. He had been denied victory in Tripoli and his agreement with Hamet Caramelli was left unkept. Furthermore, the government owed him money that he had fronted for the expedition. He complained loudly that the government was guilty of duplicity in regard to Hamet Caramelli. His complaints drew the attention of Jefferson's enemies in the
Federalist party.
In January 1806, Congress was presented with a petition from Hamet Caramelli for money and the release of his family from his brother's custody. The issue became partisan with the Federalists supporting Caramelli's and Eaton's claims that the government had rescinded its agreement to re-establish Caramelli as Tripolitan pasha. Jefferson, and his supporters, on the other hand, denied that administration ever intended the arrangement, contending that Eaton had lacked the authority to broker the deal.
Nevertheless, despite the Federalist opposition, the treaty with Tripoli was ratified by the Senate in April 1806, and the United States entered into an agreement with a Barbary state that, for the first time, did not include the payment of tribute.
Initially, Eaton's victory in Derne was viewed by both parties as the motivating factor for Tripoli in the settlement of the war. However, his willingness to become involved in the partisan bickering cost Eaton official recognition for his accomplishment. It had been proposed that Congress present Eaton with a sword, but Federalists argued that he be given a gold medal. The debate was never resolved thus he did not receive "a sword, a medal, a tract of public land or simply a resolution of thanks".
He did however, receive from Massachusetts in present-day
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
.
The trial of Aaron Burr
William Eaton was a principal
witness
In law, a witness is someone who has knowledge about a matter, whether they have sensed it or are testifying on another witnesses' behalf. In law a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, e ...
in the 1807
treason
Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...
trial of former United States
Vice-President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...
Aaron Burr.
Burr was
Vice-President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...
during President Thomas Jefferson's first term (1801-1805). Avoiding murder charges resulting from the death of his political rival
Alexander Hamilton in a
duel (1804), Burr traveled throughout the west. During this time, he met with many military men who were disgruntled with the government, including Eaton and
General James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson (March 24, 1757 – December 28, 1825) was an American soldier, politician, and double agent who was associated with several scandals and controversies.
He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, ...
. According to Eaton's later testimony, he and Burr met several times, and Eaton came to believe that Burr was planning to raise an army to invade Spanish territory in the southwest and to establish an independent state, with himself as sovereign. Eaton then met with Jefferson to suggest that Burr be given an overseas post, warning that if he was not sent out of the country he would stage an
insurrection
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
within eighteen months. The President responded that he felt secure enough in the unity of the American people not to feel threatened by such an insurrection.
Eaton again warned of Burr's plans, in the fall of 1806, when he forwarded to the
State Department a letter that he had received from his stepson, Timothy Danielson, Jr., sent to him by a friend in
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, Morris Belknap. The letter said that Burr had been purchasing boats in Ohio, and offering young men army posts.
Finally, Wilkinson sent Jefferson a letter including what he claimed was a decryption of ciphered treasonous correspondence received from Burr.
In 1807, Burr was arrested for
treason
Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...
. Although Jefferson privately confided to
Senator William Plumber of
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...
that he did not think there was enough evidence to convict Burr of treason, his public condemnation of Burr, along with Wilkinson's letter and the
deposition of William Eaton, insured an
indictment
An indictment ( ) is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that use the concept of felonies, the most serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that do not use the felonies concept often use that of a ...
.
On January 26, 1807, Eaton gave a deposition regarding his conversations with Burr. The
affidavit
An ( ; Medieval Latin for "he has declared under oath") is a written statement voluntarily made by an ''affiant'' or '' deponent'' under an oath or affirmation which is administered by a person who is authorized to do so by law. Such a stateme ...
stated that, as he listened to Burr's ambitions, Eaton came to believe that Burr was planning the overthrow of the United States government. He further stated that Burr offered him the rank of General in his army.
Eaton continued to say,
"He urrsaid, if he could gain over the marine corps
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refl ...
, and secure the naval commanders, Truxton, Preble, Decatur, and others, he would turn Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
neck and heels out of doors; assassinate the President; seize on the treasury and navy; and declare himself the protector of an energetic government."
Burr's treason trial in
Richmond, Virginia, began in August, 1807 with Eaton as the first
prosecution
A prosecutor is a legal representative of the prosecution in states with either the common law adversarial system or the Civil law (legal system), civil law inquisitorial system. The prosecution is the legal party responsible for presenting the ...
witness. Eaton reiterated what he had said in his deposition. To discredit Eaton, the defense questioned Eaton about $10,000 he had received from the federal government since giving his deposition, implying that the administration had paid him for his testimony. Eaton countered that the $10,000 was, in fact, reimbursement for money he spent in the Barbary War (which one source contends was less than what he was owed).
Historians are divided on the status of Eaton's testimony. While one states that it was wildly exaggerated, another counters that "Burr apologists" are responsible for that point of view.
Whatever the case, presiding judge
John Marshall and the jury were unconvinced, and Burr was acquitted.
Eaton was
subpoena
A subpoena (; also subpœna, supenna or subpena) or witness summons is a writ issued by a government agency, most often a court, to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of ...
ed again for another trial, in Ohio. This time the defense sought to discredit Eaton's testimony by bringing up the court-martial brought against him while he was a captain.
By this time the records of the court-martial had been destroyed in a fire. It scarcely mattered anyway, as the trial itself never took place.
Final days
After peace with Tripoli was made, William Eaton returned to
Brimfield, Massachusetts, the place he had called home for most of his life. He was elected to the
state legislature, but only served one term. Burr's trial had proved to be a
partisan issue, dividing the
Federalists
The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''.
History Europe federation
In Europe, proponents of de ...
and the
Jeffersonian Republicans
The Democratic-Republican Party, known at the time as the Republican Party and also referred to as the Jeffersonian Republican Party among other names, was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early ...
. After the trial Eaton was verbal about the treatment that he had received from the Federalists, notably Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
John Marshall. Having lost the Federalist vote in Brimfield because of his outspokenness, Eaton failed at his bid for re-election.
Eaton suffered from
rheumatism and
gout
Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot and swollen joint, caused by deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals. Pain typically comes on rapidly, reaching maximal intens ...
,
and by all accounts he had taken to drinking heavily.
He was also in debt from gambling. He died in Brimfield, June 1, 1811. Eaton predeceased his wife Eliza (née Sikes) Danielson, his stepson, Timothy Danielson and a stepdaughter, and five other children-three daughters; Eliza (married Goodwin), Charlotte (married Sprague) and Almira (married Hayden) and two sons; William Sikes and Nathaniel Johnson. Both of his sons graduated from West Point.
[''Historical Celebration of the Town of Brimfield, Hampden County Massachusetts'']
Clark W. Bryant Company. 1879
Legacy
![USS Eaton (DDE-510) following collision with USS Wisconsin (BB-64) on 6 May 1956](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/USS_Eaton_%28DDE-510%29_following_collision_with_USS_Wisconsin_%28BB-64%29_on_6_May_1956.jpg)
William Eaton is the namesake of
Eatonton, Georgia
Eatonton is a city in and county seat of Putnam County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 6,307. It was named after William Eaton, an officer and diplomat involved in the First Barbary War. The name co ...
;
Eaton, New York
Eaton is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 5,255 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Eaton is in the south-central part of the county. US Route 20 passes across the northern part of the town.
History
The town ...
; and
Eaton, Ohio
Eaton is a city in, and the county seat of Preble County, Ohio, United States, approximately 24 mi (38 km) west of Dayton. The population was 8,375 at the 2020 census, down 0.4% from the population of 8,407 at the 2010 census. Eaton's ...
.
He was also the namesake of the Fletcher-class destroyer
USS Eaton.
The
Tripoli Monument
The Tripoli Monument is the oldest military monument in the United States. It honors heroes of the United States Navy from the First Barbary War (1801–1805): Master Commandant Richard Somers, Lieutenant James Caldwell, James Decatur (brother of ...
, in memory of the first American military casualties overseas in the battle at
Derne, was sculpted of Italian marble by artist Giovanni Micali in 1806, and transported to the United States by the frigate ''
USS Constitution
USS ''Constitution'', also known as ''Old Ironsides'', is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is the world's oldest ship still afloat. She was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorized ...
'' ("Old Ironsides") and placed at the new national capital of
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
at the
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and Weapon, ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast, Washington, D.C., Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy.
The Yard currently serv ...
on the East Branch (now the
Anacostia River
The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. ...
) of the
Potomac River
The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augu ...
in 1808. Considered the first war monument in the United States, it was unfortunately vandalized by the British during the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...
in August 1814, when they attacked and occupied Washington,
burning the public buildings and facilities. Later in 1831, it was relocated to the west front of the
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, which is formally known as the United States Congress. It is located on Capitol Hill ...
, overlooking the
National Mall. In 1860, it was relocated to the campus of the
U.S. Naval Academy at
Annapolis, Maryland, where although moved several more times over the decades, remains there today. In 2001, it underwent repairs and a physical restoration.
In popular culture
Consul General Eaton and his actions at Derne with other U.S. Naval personnel along with Greek mercenaries, were loosely portrayed in the 1950 historical feature film ''
Tripoli'', starring
John Payne,
Maureen O'Hara,
Howard da Silva.
References
Bibliography
*Adams, Henry
''The History of the United States During the First Administration of Jefferson'', Part II Library of America. 2005
''The Life of the Late General William Eaton: Principally Collected from his Correspondence and Other Manuscripts'' Edited by Charles Prentiss. Printed by E. Merriam and Company, Brookfield, 1813.
Further reading
* Bow, C. B. "Waging War for the Righteous: William Eaton on Enlightenment, Empire, and Coup d'état in the First Barbary War, 1801–1805." ''History'' 101.348 (2016): 692–709. Argues that the First Barbary War was not a 'Holy War' nor the first American war on Islamic terrorism.
* Edwards, Samuel. ''Barbary General; the life of William H. Eaton'' (1968), popular histor
online*London, Joshua E. ''Victory in Tripoli: How America's War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and Shaped a Nation''. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005.
*
Roberts, Kenneth. ''Lydia Bailey''. New York: Doubleday, 1947. . Eaton appears as a major character in this historical novel.
*Smethurst, David. ''Tripoli: The United States' First War on Terror.'' New York: Presidio Press, 2006.
*Wheelan, Joseph. ''Jefferson's War: America's First War on Terror, 1801–1805''. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2003. .
* Wright, Louis B. and Julia H Macleod. '' The First Americans in North Africa: William Eaton's Struggle for a Vigorous Policy Against the Barbary Pirates, 1799–1805'' (Princeton UP, 1945), 227pp
*Zacks, Richard. ''The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805''. New York: Hyperion, 2005. .
*
External links
*
The Aaron Burr Trial
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eaton, William
1764 births
1811 deaths
American consuls
Continental Army soldiers
American people of English descent
People from Woodstock, Connecticut
American people of the Northwest Indian War
Dartmouth College alumni
American military personnel of the First Barbary War
People of Connecticut in the American Revolution
American expatriates in Tunisia
People from Brimfield, Massachusetts
18th-century American diplomats
19th-century American diplomats