Richard Dale

Richard Dale (6 November 1756 - 26 February 1826) was an officer in the United States Navy.

Dale was born 6 November 1756 in Norfolk, Virginia, was appointed a midshipman in the Continental Navy in 1776. Captured by the enemy in 1777, while serving in the Continental brig "Lexington", he was imprisoned in Mill Prison, England, but escaped to France to join John Paul Jones. He was First Lieutenant in "Bonhomme Richard" when she captured "Serapis" in the celebrated engagement of 23 September 1779. During 1781 and 1782, he commanded "Queen of France" and made several captures.

Commissioned a Captain in the United States Navy on 4 June 1794, he commanded "Ganges" during the Quasi-War with France, 1798-1801, then commanded the Mediterranean Squadron in the operations against Tripoli in 1801.

He resigned from the Navy 17 December 1802, and died at Philadelphia 26 February 1826.

Namesakes

See USS "Dale" for a list of ships named in his honor.

Further reading

*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. ISBN 0-471-44415-4.