Samuel Chester Reid

Samuel Chester Reid (24 August 1783 – 28 January 1861) was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.

Reid was born in Norwich, Connecticut and entered the Navy in 1794. He served in "Constellation" with Commodore Thomas Truxtun and in 1803 became master of the brig "Merchant". During the War of 1812 he commanded the privateer "General Armstrong" and at Fayal, Azores, in 1814 engaged gunboats from British men-of-war en route to Jamaica and New Orleans, Louisiana. Although eventually forced to scuttle and abandon his ship, Reid's action was thought to have delayed the British squadron and aided General Jackson's defense of New Orleans.

He was appointed master in the Navy in 1844 and died at New York 28 January 1861.

The ships, USS "Reid", were named for him.

His father was Lt. John Reid of the British Navy. He was taken prisoner in New London, CT in October of 1778. He later resigned, and joined the American side. In 1781, he married Rebecca Chester. Her father was John Chester who was among the soldier at Bunker Hill, and afterward a member of the Connecticut convention which ratified the constitution of the United States. -History of Eastern Connecticut.

External links

* [http://nymas.org/warof1812paper/paperrevised2006.html American Privateers in The War Of 1812] : "Examines the myths and facts behind Captain Samuel Reid's sea battle in the Azores and whether Reid's action actually delayed the British squadron and aided General Jackson's defense of New Orleans."