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Historical person

James Lawrence

1781–1813

James Lawrence was a United States naval officer remembered especially for his final command of USS Chesapeake during the War of 1812. Born in New Jersey in 1781, he entered the navy in 1798 and served during the Quasi-War with France and the conflict with Tripoli. He gained a reputation for energy and courage in Mediterranean service and later commanded several vessels, including USS Hornet, which captured HMS Peacock in a sharp action off South America in February 1813.

Promoted to captain, Lawrence took command of Chesapeake at Boston while the ship was still preparing a new crew. On 1 June 1813 he sailed to meet HMS Shannon and was mortally wounded during the close-fought battle in which the British captured his frigate. His reported order, “Don’t give up the ship,” was soon adopted as an American naval slogan and appeared on Oliver Hazard Perry’s battle flag at Lake Erie. Lawrence died from his wounds three days after the engagement.

Patrick O’Brian’s The Fortune of War brings Captain James Lawrence into the Boston phase of the War of 1812 as commander of USS Chesapeake. Aubrey and Maturin are caught in the naval world surrounding Lawrence’s challenge from HMS Shannon, and the ensuing battle—ending in Lawrence’s mortal wounding and the capture of his ship—becomes part of the immediate danger from which the protagonists must escape.

Periods

Periods linked to James Lawrence

War of 18121812–1815 CE

Series

Historical novels and book series featuring James Lawrence (1 series)

Aubrey–Maturin Novels in Order

by Patrick O’Brian 21 books 4.5(73,173)

The Aubrey–Maturin novels follow Royal Navy officer Jack Aubrey and surgeon, naturalist and intelligence agent Stephen Maturin from the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France through the War of 1812 and the first years after Waterloo. Across twenty completed novels, their friendship links shipboard command, espionage, science, domestic…

All books in this series