1 Oliver Hazard Perry Quotes

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"Oliver Hazard Perry" was an American naval commander, born in Kingston, Rhode Island/South Kingstown, Rhode Island. He was the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, and the older brother of Commodore (United States)/Commodore Matthew C. Perry/Matthew Calbraith Perry.

Perry served in the West Indies during the Quasi War with France, the Mediterranean Sea/Mediterranean during the Barbary Wars, in the Caribbean fighting piracy and the African slave trade/slave trade, but is most noted for his heroic role in the War of 1812 during the Battle of Lake Erie. During the War of 1812 against United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland/Britain, Perry supervised the building of a fleet at Erie, Pennsylvania, at the age of 27. He earned the title "Hero of Lake Erie" for leading American forces in a decisive naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, receiving a Congressional Gold Medal and the Thanks of Congress. His leadership materially aided the successful outcomes of all nine Lake Erie military campaign victories, and the fleet victory was a turning point in the battle for the west in the War of 1812. He is remembered for the words on his battle flag, "Don't Give Up the Ship" and his message to congress which reads in part, "We have met the enemy and they are ours;".