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|battles=Quasi-War First Barbary War * Captured the Tripolian ketch, ''Mastico'' (1803) * Battle of Tripoli Harbor (1804) War of 1812 * USS ''United States'' vs. HMS ''Macedonian'' * Capture of USS ''President'' Second Barbary War * Battle off Cape Gata * Battle off Cape Palos |awards=Congressional Gold Medal |spouse=Susan Wheeler |laterwork= Board of Navy Commissioners }} Stephen Decatur, Jr. (January 5, 1779March 22, 1820) was a United States naval officer and Commodore notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, in Worcester County, the son of a U.S. naval officer who served during the American Revolution. Shortly after attending college, Decatur followed in his father's footsteps and joined the U.S. Navy at the age of nineteen.〔Waldo, 1821 Chapter I, Introductory〕 He was the youngest man to reach the rank of captain in the history of the United States Navy.〔Mackenzie, 1846, pp. 120–121; Allison, 2005 pp. 1–17〕 Decatur's father, Stephen Decatur, Sr., also became a commodore in the U.S. Navy – which brought the younger Stephen into the world of ships and sailing early on. Decatur supervised the construction of several U.S. naval vessels, one of which he would later command. He became an affluent member of Washington society and counted James Monroe and other Washington dignitaries among his personal friends.〔Guttridge, 2005 p.226〕 Decatur joined the U.S. Navy in 1798 as a midshipman.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN, (1779–1820) )〕 He served under three presidents, and played a major role in the early development of the American navy. In almost every theater of operation, Decatur's service was characterized with acts of heroism and exceptional performance in the many areas of military endeavor. His service in the Navy took him through both Barbary Wars in North Africa, the Quasi-War with France, and the War of 1812 with Britain. During this period he served aboard and commanded many naval vessels and ultimately became a member of the Board of Navy Commissioners. He built a large home in Washington, known as Decatur House, on Lafayette Square, which later became the home to a number of famous Americans, and was the center of Washington society in the early 19th century.〔Guttridge, 2005 p.83〕 He was renowned for his natural ability to lead and for his genuine concern for the seamen under his command.〔Lewis, 1937 p.55〕 Decatur's distinguished career in the Navy came to an early end when he lost his life in a duel with a rival officer.〔Waldo, 1821, pp.289–293〕〔Mackenzie, 1846, pp.320–325〕 His numerous naval victories against Britain, France and the Barbary states established the United States as a rising power. Decatur subsequently emerged as a national hero in his own lifetime, becoming the first post–Revolutionary War hero. His name and legacy, like that of John Paul Jones, soon became identified with the United States Navy.〔Waldo, 1821 p.13〕〔Abbot, W. John, 1886 p. 70〕 ==Early life and education== Decatur was born on January 5, 1779, in Sinepuxent, Maryland, to Stephen Decatur, Sr., a merchant captain and later an officer in the young American navy during the American Revolution, and his wife Ann (Pine) Decatur. The family of Decatur was of French descent on Stephen's father's side, while his mother's family was of Irish ancestry.〔Waldo, 1821 pp.19–23〕 His parents had arrived from Philadelphia just three months before Stephen was born, having to flee that city during the American Revolution because of the British occupation, returning to the same residence they had once left for Philadelphia.〔Waldo, 1821 p.40〕 Decatur's family returned to Philadelphia shortly after Decatur's birth, and Decatur grew up in Philadelphia.〔Waldo, 1821 p.42〕 Decatur came to love the sea and sailing in a roundabout manner. When Stephen was eight years old he developed a severe case of whooping cough. In those days a known tonic for this condition was exposure to the salt air of the sea. It was so decided that Stephen Jr. would accompany his father aboard a merchant ship on his next voyage to Europe. Sailing across the Atlantic and back proved to be an effective remedy and Decatur came home completely recovered. In the days following young Stephen's return he was jubilant about his adventure on the high sea and spoke of wanting to go sailing often. His parents had different aspirations, especially his mother who had hopes that Stephen would one day become an Episcopal clergyman, and tried to discourage the eight-year-old from such jaunty ambitions fearing they would distract Stephen from his studies.〔Lewis, 1937 pp.5–6〕〔 At the direction of his father, Decatur attended the Protestant Episcopal Academy,〔Mackenzie, 1846, pp.9–16〕 at the time an all-boys school that specialized in Latin, mathematics and religion; however, Decatur had not applied himself adequately, and barely graduated from the academy. He then enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in 1795 for one year〔Tucker, 1937 p.39〕 where he better applied himself and focused on his studies. At the university Decatur met and became friends with Charles Stewart and Richard Somers, who would later become naval officers themselves.〔Allison, 2005 pp.9–17〕 Decatur found the classic studies prosaic and life at the university disagreeable, and at the age of 17, with his heart and mind set on ships and the sea, discontinued his studies there. Though his parents were not pleased with his decision they were apparently wise enough to now let the aspiring young man pursue his own course through life.〔Lewis, 1937 p.7〕 Through his father's influence Stephen gained employment at the shipbuilding firm of Gurney and Smith, business associates of his father, acting as supervisor to the early construction of the frigate .〔Guttridge, 2005 p.26〕〔MacKenzie, 1846 p.17〕 He was serving on board this vessel as a midshipman when it was launched on May 10, 1797〔Bradford, 1914 p.42〕 under the command of Commodore John Barry.〔Tucker, 2004, pp.10–11〕 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「Stephen Decatur」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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