Samuel Barron (1765–1810)

Samuel Barron was born in Hampton, Virginia, the son of a merchant captain named James Barron who became Commodore of the tiny Virginia State Navy during the American Revolution. Barron studied at William and Mary College, and received his early training at sea from his father. He became a midshipman on the frigate Dragon and served in the Virginia Navy during the latter part of the Revolutionary War. After a number of years as a merchant captain, he joined the fledgling United States Navy.

In 1798, Barron was placed in command of the Augusta and took part in the Quasi-War with France. During the First Barbary War, he commanded the President and relieved Edward Preble near Tripoli. “Throughout most of the winter of 1804-1805, Barron was prostrated with a painful liver disease, a consequence of yellow fever. For the squadron officers, Barron's health was a subject of continuous concern and frustration…and in early November 1804, he moved ashore - yet he refused to give up command and never stopped hoping that he would recover.” [1] In 1805 he turned over command of his squadron to John Rodgers and returned to the United States due to poor health. He was then assigned command of the Gosport Shipyard in Virginia. His health never fully recovered and on 29 October 1810 Lt. Robert Henley his executive officer reported to the Secretary of the Navy "I have the painful duty to inform you of the death of Commodore Samuel Barron. In apparent good health, he was attacked while at dinner yesterday in Hampton with an apoplectic fit and expired about 10 o'clock this morning." Commodore Barron was buried at Hampton Virginia age 45.[2][3]

Samuel Barron's son, Samuel Barron (1809–1888), served with distinction in the United States Navy, until he resigned his commission in April 1861 to join the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.[4]

• Rossiter Johnson, ed. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. I. Boston: The Biographical Society.