Andrew Sterett

Andrew Sterett (27 January 1778 - 9 June 1807) was an officer in the United States Navy during the nation's early days. He saw combat during the Quasi-War with France and in the Barbary Wars, commanding the schooner USS "Enterprise" in both conflicts.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of John Sterett, a former Revolutionary War captain and a successful shipping merchant. The fourth of ten children, Andrew Sterett nevertheless inherited a sizable amount of money. Despite this, he resolved to join the Navy, and was commissioned as a lieutenant on 25 March 1798.

The Quasi-War

Sterett's first assignment was as Third Lieutenant of the USF "Constellation", under Captain Thomas Truxtun, which was sent to do battle with French vessels during the Quasi-War. Sterett was commanding a gun battery when "Constellation" attained the first-ever U.S. victory against a foreign navy, defeating and capturing the French frigate "L'Insurgente" on 9 February 1799. "L'Insurgente" lost 29 dead and 41 wounded; the only American loss was a man run through by Lieutenant Sterett's saber.

During the battle, Sterett summarily executed a seaman, Neal Harvey, for having abandoned his post in a panic. Upon "Constellation'"s arrival back in Baltimore, the anti-federalist press, who opposed the military in general and the Quasi-War in particular, seized upon this incident as an example of the Navy's arrogance and cold-bloodedness. The objections intensified when Sterett was heard to say, "We put men to death for even looking pale on this ship." The Navy saw things quite differently, and soon promoted Sterett to the rank of First Lieutenant.

A year later, Sterett was involved in a battle to a draw with the 54-gun French frigate "Vengeance". Soon afterward, he took command of the schooner USS "Enterprise" where he remained through the end of the Quasi-War, capturing the privateer "L'Amour de la Patrie" on 24 December 1800.

The Barbary Wars

After resupplying in Baltimore, Sterett sailed "Enterprise" to the Barbary Coast in June, 1801 as part of a force under Commodore Richard Dale, in the first stages of the Barbary Wars.

On 1 August 1801, "Enterprise" under Sterett's command handily defeated the 14-gun "Tripoli", a Tripolitan corsair. After twice faking surrender, "Tripoli" suffered 30 dead and 30 wounded, including the Captain, Rais Mahomet Rous, and the first officer. "Enterprise" suffered no casualties.

Since there was no formal declaration of war, "Enterprise" was under orders not to take prizes. After her crew was ordered to dump its guns overboard, "Tripoli" was allowed to sail home, where her captain was humiliated and punished.

"Enterprise" was sent back to Baltimore with dispatches after this engagement. While there, on the recommendation of Congress, Sterett was presented by President Thomas Jefferson with a sword in gratitude of the victory over the "Tripoli". "Enterprise"'s crew was also rewarded with an extra month's pay. The ship returned to the Mediterranean in November 1802.

Sterett turned over command of the "Enterprise" to Stephen Decatur in April 1803. He was then promoted to Master Commandant and offered the command of a brig which was under construction.

Resignation and last years

Sterett had been senior in rank to Decatur, but due to their comparative length of service, as of 1803, Decatur was selected to be promoted above Sterett. Sterett therefore resigned from the Navy, on 29 June 1805, to join the merchant marine. He died in Lima, Peru at the age of twenty-nine.

Legacy

Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS "Sterett" in his honor.

Further reading

*London, Joshua E. "Victory in Tripoli: How America's How America's War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and Shaped a Nation". New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005. ISBN 0-471-44415-4.