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Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor

On February 16, 1804, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, with 75 volunteers from the frigate Constitution and the schooner Enterprise entered Tripoli harbor by night in the ketch Intrepid with the intent to burn the captured frigate Philadelphia.  The ketch was disguised as a merchant ship flying British colors.   Stating they lost their anchors in a storm, they were given permission to moor alongside Philadelphia until morning.   Boarding the frigate, they set the captured ship ablaze.   England's Lord Nelson called this "the most daring act of the age."


KN 10849 (Color): Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia in the Harbor of Tripoli, February 16, 1804". Oil on canvas, 60" by 42", by Edward Moran (1829-1901), signed and dated by the artist, 1897. It depicts USS Philadelphia, previously captured by ...
Caption: KN 10849 (Color): Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia in the Harbor of Tripoli, February 16, 1804". Oil on canvas, 60" by 42", by Edward Moran (1829-1901), signed and dated by the artist, 1897. It depicts USS Philadelphia, previously captured by the Tripolitans, ablaze after she was boarded and set afire by a party from the ketch Intrepid led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur. Painting in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum Collection. Gift of Paul E. Sutro, 1940.

NH 50528: Burning of USS Philadelphia, 16 February 1804. Reproduction of a 19th Century engraving, depicting Lieutenant Stephen Decatur leading his men as they recaptured the Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor, prior to setting her afire. Published i...

NH 1340: "Boarding the Philadelphia". Halftone reproduction of an artwork by J.O. Davidson, depicting the boarding of the captured U.S. Frigate Philadelphia by a party led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, in Tripoli harbor, 16 February 1804. Copied...
Caption: NH 1340: "Boarding the Philadelphia". Halftone reproduction of an artwork by J.O. Davidson, depicting the boarding of the captured U.S. Frigate Philadelphia by a party led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, in Tripoli harbor, 16 February 1804. Copied from a book entitled "History of the Navy".

NH 85590-KN (Color): Stephen Decatur (1779-1820). Portrait by Orlando S. Lagman, 1965, after Gilbert Stuart. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
Caption: NH 85590-KN (Color): Stephen Decatur (1779-1820). Portrait by Orlando S. Lagman, 1965, after Gilbert Stuart. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

NH 50459: Burning of USS Philadelphia, 16 February 1804. 19th Century painting depicting the Philadelphia aflame in Tripoli harbor, after she had been captured and set afire by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur's boarding party. Courtesy of President Fr...
Caption: NH 50459: Burning of USS Philadelphia, 16 February 1804. 19th Century painting depicting the Philadelphia aflame in Tripoli harbor, after she had been captured and set afire by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur's boarding party. Courtesy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936.

NH 56735: Destruction of USS Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor, 16 February 1804. Artwork from the collection of Mr. Stephen Decatur, depicting Philadelphia afire after she was boarded and set ablaze by a party led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur. In ...
Caption: NH 56735: Destruction of USS Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor, 16 February 1804. Artwork from the collection of Mr. Stephen Decatur, depicting Philadelphia afire after she was boarded and set ablaze by a party led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur. In the left foreground is the ketch Intrepid, which Decatur used during this mission.

NH 56751: "Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia in the Harbor of Tripoli, 16th Feb. 1804, by 70 Gallant Tars of Columbia commanded by Lieut. Decatur". Aquatint engraving by F. Kearney, published in August 1808. It depicts the ketch Intrepid, under...
Caption: NH 56751: "Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia in the Harbor of Tripoli, 16th Feb. 1804, by 70 Gallant Tars of Columbia commanded by Lieut. Decatur". Aquatint engraving by F. Kearney, published in August 1808. It depicts the ketch Intrepid, under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, at left, leaving Tripoli harbor after her crew had boarded the Philadelphia and set the ship ablaze.

NH 60689: "Burning of the Philadelphia". 19th Century engraving, depicting the burning of USS Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor by a boarding party led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, 16 February 1804.
Caption: NH 60689: "Burning of the Philadelphia". 19th Century engraving, depicting the burning of USS Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor by a boarding party led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, 16 February 1804.

NH 56745: Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor, 16 February 1804. Chart by Charles Wellington Furlong, 1904, depicting (by dot and dash lines) the course followed by the ketch Intrepid, under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, as she en...
Caption: NH 56745: Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor, 16 February 1804. Chart by Charles Wellington Furlong, 1904, depicting (by dot and dash lines) the course followed by the ketch Intrepid, under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, as she entered and left Tripoli harbor on her mission to destroy the captured USS Philadelphia. Heavy dashed line indicates Philadelphia's drift after she was set afire. Position "A" marks Philadelphia's position when boarded by Decatur's men, while "B" is the location of her wreck when Furlong located it about a century later and recovered artifacts. Position "X" (just west of the Jerba Passage) is the location of Intrepid's wreck after she blew up on 4 September 1804, during another mission into Tripoli harbor. Courtesy of Charles Wellington Furlong, July 1939.

NH 66173: Lord Horatio Nelson, Royal Navy, 1758-1805. Stipple engraving by P. Roberts after artwork by J. F. Abbot. Published in the Naval Chronicle, April 1800 by Bunney & Gold, London. Horatio Nelson, Lord Nelson of the Nile, Duke of Bronti, et...
Caption: NH 66173: Lord Horatio Nelson, Royal Navy, 1758-1805. Stipple engraving by P. Roberts after artwork by J. F. Abbot. Published in the Naval Chronicle, April 1800 by Bunney & Gold, London. Horatio Nelson, Lord Nelson of the Nile, Duke of Bronti, etc. Entered the Royal Navy in 1770. Dates of rank: Lieutenant 1777, Captain 1779, Rear Admiral 1797, and Vice Admiral 1801.
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Published: Thu Feb 11 14:35:21 EST 2021