John Rodgers was an American naval officer who served in the United States Navy from its organization in the 1790s through the late 1830s.
His service included the Quasi-War with France and the War of 1812.
He would also serve under many different United States Presidents who ranged from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans.
Early Years
John Rodgers was born on the eve of the American Revolution near present-day Havre de Grace, Maryland. He entered the Navy as Second Lieutenant when it was organized on March 8, 1798, and was assigned to the Constellation.
He helped capture the French frigate L'Insurgente on February 9, 1799 and took command of her as prize master.
He was promoted to Captain on March 5, 1799, and three months later took command of the Maryland.
In March 1801, he transported the ratified Convention of 1800 (Treaty of Mortefontaine), which ended the Quasi-War, to France.
Placed in command of the John Adams the following year, he sailed for the Mediterranean to attack Barbary forts and gunboats at Tripoli as part of the First Barbary War.
His brilliant record fighting the corsairs won him an appointment as Commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron in May 1805.
In 1806, Rodgers married Minerva Denison; they had three sons, Robert, Frederick, and John, and two daughters together.
Their son John Rodgers Jr. was born in Maryland in 1812. He entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman, serving aboard the Baltimore-built USS Constellation and USS Concord in the Mediterranean Sea.
Later, he was commissioned as a rear admiral during the Civil War. Rodgers also had several grandsons and great-grandsons who became officers in the U.S. Navy
A year later, he returned to the United States to take command of the New York Flotilla. After the Embargo Act was passed at the close of 1807, Rodgers commanded operations along the Atlantic coast, enforcing its provisions.
War of 1812
In 1811, he was in command as Commodore of the President off Annapolis when he heard that an American seaman had been "impressed" by a British frigate off Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
Commodore Rodgers was ordered to sea to "protect American commerce," but he may have had verbal instructions to retaliate for the impressment of British subjects out of American vessels, which was causing much ill-feeling and was the main cause of the War of 1812.
On the 16 May 1811, he sighted and followed the British sloop Little Belt, and after some hailing and counterhailing, of which very different versions are given on either side, a gun was fired, each side accusing the other of the first shot, and an action ensued in which Little Belt was cut to pieces.
On the sixth day of the War of 1812, still, President Rodgers drove off the British frigate Belvidera and chased her for eight hours before she escaped.
He was wounded during this engagement when a gun burst near him. Rodgers commanded the President for most of the war, capturing 23 prizes.
On land, Rodgers rendered valuable service defending Baltimore during the British attack on Fort McHenry.
Final Years
Several years before Rodgers retired from the Board of Naval Commissioners, his health began to decline, it is believed from a case of cholera.
On advice that his condition would benefit from a leave of absence, he was persuaded to take a trip across the Atlantic to England.
Rodgers subsequently resigned his commission with the blessing of President Andrew Jackson and Secretary Mahlon Dickerson of the Navy.
On May 10, he sailed for London, embarking from New York on the packet ship Montreal and spent several weeks in London. He also visited the towns of Plymouth and Portsmouth and was escorted and given much attention by the Admiralty of the Royal Navy and many notable people.
He was the guest of two close friends, Admiral Sir James Stirling and Lady Hillyarm, who were with the Mediterranean Fleet while Rodgers was serving there, dealing with the piracy of the Barbary states.
Late in August 1837, Rodgers returned to the United States with little improvement in his health. He remained at his home at Lafayette Square in Washington for several weeks, but with his health now steadily declining again, he was placed in the care of the naval asylum at Philadelphia under the care of a naval doctor and friend, Dr. Thomas Harris.
His wife took up residence in a boarding house nearby. Soon, his already frail condition began to rapidly worsen, and when it was certain his death was imminent, his wife was sent for, but Rodgers had already lapsed into unconsciousness by the time she arrived at his bedside.
Rodgers' last words were spoken to his butler and close friend, asking, "...do you know the Lord's Prayer?" His butler replied, "Yes, master." Rodgers responded, "Then repeat it for me".
Rodgers died in the arms of his butler on August 1, 1838, at the age of 66.
Rodgers' funeral took place at the home of Commodore Biddle. In attendance was Brigadier General Prevost, who had called upon the uniformed men in the city to honor Rodgers with a parade through Washington.
Legacy
Commodore Rodgers established a naval "dynasty" that produced several other notable officers. His son John Rodgers (1812–1882) served in the Civil War, and his great-grandson John Rodgers (1881–1926) served in World War I.
Six ships have been named in their honor, three USS John Rodgers and three USS Rodgers.
Louisa, daughter of Commodore Rodgers, was married to Union General Montgomery C. Meigs; their son John Rodgers Meigs was killed in the Civil War in 1864. (General Meigs was a great-grandson of Continental Army Colonel Return J. Meigs, Sr. and Grandson to Ohio Governor Return J. Meigs Jr.).
His home, Sion Hill, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.