William Henry Allen

Infobox Military Person
name=William Henry Allen
born= birth date|1784|10|21
died= death date and age|1813|8|18|1784|10|21


caption= Lieutenant William Henry Allen, USN
placeofbirth= Providence, Rhode Island
placeofdeath= Plymouth, England
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears= 1800–1813
rank= Lieutenant
unit=
commands=USS|Argus|1803
battles=
awards=
relations=
laterwork=

William Henry Allen (21 October 1784 – 18 August 1813) was an American naval officer during the War of 1812.

Quotation [a1]

Influences: "His father, William Allen, on the breaking out of the American Revolution, was appointed a first lieutenant in the army. He continued in the army until the restoration of peace, and commanded the Rhode Island line of troops at the battle of Saratoga, when he was advanced to the rank of major. William Allen was present and actively engaged in most of the battles which were fought during our revolutionary war; and in 1786, was appointed by Congress, senior officer of the legionary corps raised in Rhode Island. In the year 1799, he was appointed by the legislature of that State, brigadier general of militia. The mother of William Henry Allen, was the sister of the (Oct. 1843) Governor of Rhode Island. " P.247

*William Henry Allen was born in Providence, Rhode Island and was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy on 28 April 1800. Between 1800 and 1807, he served successively in "George Washington" and "Philadelphia". In 1807, he transferred to "Chesapeake" and, on 21 June, participated in the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. Allen was credited with firing the only gun discharged in her own defense by the American ship. By 1812, he was first lieutenant in "United States" and took part in the engagement with HMS "Macedonian". At the conclusion of that capture, he was named to command the prize crew which took "Macedonian" into New York.

*In 1813, he took command of the brig "Argus". On 14 August, he led his ship in the Capture of USS Argus
engagement with HMS "Pelican" during which he received mortal wounds. A round shot cut off his right leg, but he remained at his station until he fainted from blood loss. After "Argus surrender, Allen was taken to the hospital at Plymouth's Millbay Prison where he died on 18 August 1813. Allen was buried with full military honors in the churchyard of St Andrew's, Plymouth, England [Roosevelt, Theodore: "The Naval War of 1812""'; G. P. Putnam's Sons [1882] Naval Institute Press [1987] : ISBN 0-87021-445-4: pp. 125–126; 198-200; 203; 399.] .

Source [a1]

* Frost, John, LL.D., "The Pictorial Book Of The Commodores; Comprising Lives Of Distinguished Commanders In The Navy Of The United States." Nafis & Cornish, New York, 1845.

Namesakes

*See USS "Allen" for ships named in his honor. Allen Street in Manhattan, New York City, a two-way street forming a stretch of First Avenue below Houston Street, is named after William Henry Allen [Moscow, Henry: "The Street Book"; Fordham University Press 1978: ISBN 0-8232-1275-0: P. 22.] .

ee also

References

:DANFS:NHC

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-a/wh-allen.htm NHC Biography]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a11/argus-i.htm NHC: Brig "Argus"]