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Commodore John Downes (1786 – 11 August 1854) was an officer in the United States Navy, whose service covered the first half of the 19th century. ==Early life and career== Born in Canton, Massachusetts, Downes served as acting midshipman from 9 September 1800 and was appointed midshipman 1 June 1802. He rendered distinguished service during the First Barbary War in 1804 in the frigate , and distinguished himself again while a midshipman on the frigate ''New York'' in a boat attack upon Tripolitan feluccas. In March 1807, he was made a lieutenant, and served as executive officer for Captain David Porter in during her cruise in the Pacific in the War of 1812. In the Action off James Island, Downes was in command of the sloop ''Georgiana'' during the capture of three British privateers. He also participated in the Action off Charles Island before sailing to Nuku Hiva to assist in building America's first military base in the Pacific. Among the ''Essex'' many prizes was the whale ship ''Atlantic'',〔Or ''Atlantic''. See 〕 "which Captain Porter fitted as a cruiser and classified as a sloop-of-war, with twenty guns, named the ''Essex Junior'', and placed under the command of Lieutenant Downes who retained this place until the capture of the ''Essex'', and the conversion of ''Essex Junior'' into a cartel, 28 March 1814." Downes was promoted to master commandant in 1813, and two years later commanded the brig , in the squadron employed against Algiers under Stephen Decatur. On 17 June 1815 he, in concert with the rest of Decatur's squadron, captured the Algerian frigate ''Mashouda.'' Two days later the ''Epervier'' and three of the smaller vessels of the squadron captured the Algerine brig of war ''Estedio'' with twenty-two guns and 180 men off Cape Paios. After the conclusion of peace with Algiers, Decatur transferred Downes to his own ship, . Downes also served on the and . He became captain in March 1817. Downes took command of in 1818 and set forth on a three-year show of power for America to South America and beyond. On this trip, he decided to use the ship for his own enrichment and became a banking ship, giving protection, passage and banking service to privateers, pirates and others. He took large amounts for his own private use. He took at least 2.6 million in specie during his trip. He so angered his associates, whom he kept busy counting money under poor conditions, that one of his midshipmen, William Rodgers, resigned from the Navy after coming ashore from this three-year voyage. He cited not being able to "do what I joined this man's Navy to do. Not being able to serve my country but to simply be serving for the monetary good of Captain Downes". Captain Downes had so much specie aboard that he was able to bribe Lord Cochrane into allowing the ''Macedonian'' to pass Cochrane's blockade. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「John Downes (naval officer)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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