James Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Lawrence
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Captain James Lawrence, United States Navy
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| Born | October 1, 1781 Burlington, New Jersey |
| Died | June 4, 1813 (aged 31) USS Chesapeake, Atlantic Ocean, off Boston, Massachusetts |
| Place of burial |
Trinity Church Cemetery, New York, New York
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1798–1813 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held |
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| Battles/wars | |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
James Lawrence (born October 1, 1781 – died June 4, 1813) was a brave officer in the United States Navy. He is famous for his last words, "Don't give up the ship!" He said this during a tough battle in the War of 1812. At that time, he was in charge of the ship USS Chesapeake. They fought against the British ship HMS Shannon. His famous words became a popular battle cry for the Navy. Another naval hero, Oliver Hazard Perry, even put these words on his battle flag to remember his friend.
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James Lawrence was born on October 1, 1781, in Burlington, New Jersey. He grew up in Woodbury. His mother passed away when he was very young. His father, who supported the British during the American Revolution, moved to Canada. James was then raised by his half-sister. He went to Woodbury Academy and studied law. But in 1798, he decided to join the United States Navy as a midshipman.
During the Quasi-War with France, James Lawrence served on the ships USS Ganges and USS Adams in the Caribbean. He became a lieutenant on April 6, 1802. He then served on USS Enterprise in the Mediterranean Sea. There, he helped attack enemy ships on June 2, 1803.
In February 1804, he was second in command of a mission. Their goal was to destroy the captured American ship USS Philadelphia. Later, he commanded Enterprise and a gunboat in battles against the Tripolitans. He also served as First Lieutenant on the ship Adams. In 1805, he commanded a small ship called Gunboat No. 6. He sailed it all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to North Africa.
Leading Ships in Battle
James Lawrence later commanded other warships like USS Vixen, USS Wasp, and USS Argus. In 1810, he even helped test a new type of weapon called a spar torpedo. He was promoted to Master Commandant in November 1810. A year later, he took command of the ship USS Hornet. He sailed Hornet to Europe for a diplomatic mission.
When the War of 1812 began, Lawrence and Hornet were very active. In July 1812, they captured a privateer ship called Dolphin. Later that year, Hornet blocked the British ship HMS Bonne Citoyenne in Bahia, Brazil. On February 24, 1813, Lawrence and his crew captured another British ship, HMS Peacock.
When he returned to the United States in March, Lawrence learned he had been promoted to captain. Two months later, he took command of the frigate Chesapeake. The ship was getting ready to sail from Boston. He left port on June 1, 1813. Right away, he faced the British frigate Shannon in a fierce battle.
"Don't Give Up the Ship!"
Even though the British ship was a little smaller, it quickly damaged Chesapeake with its cannons. Captain Lawrence was badly wounded by gunfire. He famously ordered his officers, "Don't give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks!" or "Tell the men to fire faster! Don't give up the ship." His men carried him below deck. Soon after, a British boarding party took over the Chesapeake.
James Lawrence died from his wounds on June 4, 1813. His captors took the Chesapeake to Halifax, Nova Scotia. When Lawrence's friend, Oliver Hazard Perry, heard about his death, he ordered a special blue battle flag. It had the words "DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP" in big white letters. Perry flew this flag on his main ship during a big victory against the British on Lake Erie in September 1813.
The original "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag is now at the Naval Academy Museum. A copy is in Memorial Hall at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Another copy is at Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial in Ohio.
Lawrence was first buried with military honors in Nova Scotia. Later, his body was moved to Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City. He had a wife, Julia, and a two-year-old daughter, Mary. Mary later married a Navy officer.
Honoring a Hero: Namesakes and Awards
James Lawrence was honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. This is one of the highest awards given by the U.S. Congress. He also received the Thanks of Congress.
Many places in the United States are named after Captain Lawrence, including:
- Lawrence, Indiana
- Several counties in different states, like Alabama, Illinois, and Ohio.
- Towns like Lawrenceville, Georgia and Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.
- A neighborhood in Pittsburgh called Lawrenceville.
- Captain Lawrence Drive in South Salem, NY.
His birthplace, Burlington, New Jersey, has a Captain James Lawrence Elementary School.
The U.S. Navy has also named five ships after Captain Lawrence:
- The first USS Lawrence (1813) was a brig. It was Oliver Hazard Perry's main ship during the Battle of Lake Erie.
- The second USS Lawrence (1843) was also a brig, serving from 1843 to 1846.
- The third USS Lawrence (DD-8) was a destroyer, serving from 1903 to 1920.
- The fourth USS Lawrence (DD-250) was another destroyer, serving from 1921 to 1945.
- The fifth USS Lawrence (DDG-4) was a guided-missile destroyer. It served from 1962 to 1994. Captain Lawrence's great-great-granddaughter, Mrs. Dorothy Redmond Hubbard, christened this ship.
