Cyrus Tiffany facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cyrus Tiffany
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"Cyrus Tiffany in the Battle of Lake Erie, September 13, 1813," mural by Martyl Schweig Langsdorf
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| Born | 1738 |
| Died | 1818 |
| Place of burial |
At sea
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| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Battles/wars | |
Cyrus Tiffany was an African-American sailor and fifer (someone who plays the fife, a small flute-like instrument). He served bravely in the War of 1812 under Oliver Hazard Perry.
During the important Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, Tiffany showed great courage. He is remembered for protecting Commodore Perry. This happened when Perry had to move from his damaged ship, the USS Lawrence, to another ship, the USS Niagara.
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Cyrus Tiffany's Early Life
Cyrus Tiffany was likely born in 1738. Some records also call him Silas Tiffany. It's thought he might have served in the American Revolutionary War when he was younger.
Tiffany was very skilled at playing the fife. Some stories even say he played music for George Washington. Later, he lived as a free Black man in Taunton, Massachusetts, with his family. It was there that he met Oliver Hazard Perry.
Serving in the War of 1812
By the time the War of 1812 started, Tiffany was an older man. People often called him "Old Tiffany." He worked as a personal helper for Commodore Perry.
During the fierce Battle of Lake Erie, Perry gave Tiffany an important job. He told Tiffany to stand on the ship's lower deck with a musket. His task was to make sure no soldiers tried to hide from the fighting below deck.
After the Battle
Cyrus Tiffany stayed by Perry's side throughout the entire battle. He continued to serve with Perry afterward. Some accounts say he stayed with Perry until Perry's death in 1819. However, other records suggest Tiffany died in 1818 while aboard the USS Java and was buried at sea.
Black Sailors in the War
About 10% of the sailors on Perry's ships were Black men. Many African Americans had experience working on ships. Their skills were very helpful for Perry's mission on Lake Erie.
Other Black sailors in the battle included Jesse Williams and Newport Hazard, who were both hurt during the fighting. Sadly, several others, like Jesse Walls and Isaac Hardy, were killed. Those who survived had different experiences later on. Jesse Williams received a silver medal from Pennsylvania for his service. However, a young ship boy named Jack Russell had to give his prize money to his master when he returned home.
Remembering Cyrus Tiffany
Cyrus Tiffany's brave actions are not always mentioned in stories about the Battle of Lake Erie. However, his legacy lives on.
Around 1943, a mural was painted in Washington, D.C., that shows Tiffany next to Perry. This artwork was created by Martyl Langsdorf. More recently, historians like Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Gene Allen Smith have included Tiffany in their research. This helps more people learn about his important role in American history.
