United States Naval Officer. He joined the United States Navy in 1804 and served in the Barbary War. In 1807 he was on board USS Chesapeake when James Barron was forced to allow a search by England's HMS Leopard. He then oversaw construction of a Lake Erie fleet and at the start of the War of 1812 transferred to Lake Ontario as commander of USS Madison. In July, 1813 Elliott participated in the Battle of York, afterwards returning to Lake Erie as Oliver Hazard Perry's second in command on board USS Niagara. During the Battle of Lake Erie in September, Perry commended Elliott for his actions in command of the Niagara, and he was promoted to command of the fleet. However, Perry suspected that he had held the Niagara out of the battle's early stages, which ignited a feud when it became known. He commanded USS Ontario during the Second Barbary War and was promoted to Captain, then the Navy's highest rank. In 1820 Elliott was Barron's second in the duel that resulted in Stephen Decatur's death. In 1825 he took command of USS Cyane, and from 1829 to 1832 commanded the West Indies Squadron. In 1833 Elliott took command of Boston's Navy Yard, and in 1835 took charge of the Mediterranean Squadron, where he was accused of misconduct and suspended, probably because of the feud and duel controversies. In 1843 he was appointed commander of Philadelphia's Navy Yard, where he served until his death. Elliott was a Dickinson College Trustee and the father of Civil War General Washington Lafayette Elliott.
United States Naval Officer. He joined the United States Navy in 1804 and served in the Barbary War. In 1807 he was on board USS Chesapeake when James Barron was forced to allow a search by England's HMS Leopard. He then oversaw construction of a Lake Erie fleet and at the start of the War of 1812 transferred to Lake Ontario as commander of USS Madison. In July, 1813 Elliott participated in the Battle of York, afterwards returning to Lake Erie as Oliver Hazard Perry's second in command on board USS Niagara. During the Battle of Lake Erie in September, Perry commended Elliott for his actions in command of the Niagara, and he was promoted to command of the fleet. However, Perry suspected that he had held the Niagara out of the battle's early stages, which ignited a feud when it became known. He commanded USS Ontario during the Second Barbary War and was promoted to Captain, then the Navy's highest rank. In 1820 Elliott was Barron's second in the duel that resulted in Stephen Decatur's death. In 1825 he took command of USS Cyane, and from 1829 to 1832 commanded the West Indies Squadron. In 1833 Elliott took command of Boston's Navy Yard, and in 1835 took charge of the Mediterranean Squadron, where he was accused of misconduct and suspended, probably because of the feud and duel controversies. In 1843 he was appointed commander of Philadelphia's Navy Yard, where he served until his death. Elliott was a Dickinson College Trustee and the father of Civil War General Washington Lafayette Elliott.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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