US Navy: Chesapeake-Leopard Affair/uss-chesapeake-large-56a61c3e5f9b58b7d0dff723.jpg)
June 22, 1807 – HMS Leopard attacks USS Chesapeake (right) off the coast of Virginia. In filling out Chesapeake‘s crew, Commodore James Barron enlisted three known deserters from HMS Melampus. Though the British ambassador protested, Barron refused to return the three sailors as they had been forcibly impressed into the Royal Navy. Departing Norfolk on June 22, Chesapeake, which was still stowing equipment and had its decks littered with supplies, was chased down by HMS Leopard.
Hailing the American ship, the British captain inquired if Barron would carry dispatches to Britain. A common courtesy, Barron agreed. When one of Leopard‘s lieutenants arrived on the American ship, he presented orders from VAdm. George Berkeley instructing him to search Chesapeake for British deserters. Promptly refusing this request, Barron dismissed the lieutenant. A short time later, Leopard hailed Chesapeake but the message was not heard by Barron. This was followed by the British ship opening fire. Ill-prepared for battle, Chesapeake was only able to respond with one gun before being forced to surrender. Coming aboard, the British removed four sailors from Chesapeake before departing.
Limping back to Norfolk, Barron was soon court-martialed for his role in the Chesapeake–Leopard Affair and was suspended from the US Navy for five years. The affair provoked a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Britain and ultimately led to the Embargo Act of 1807.
The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair was one of many incidents that eventually led to the War of 1812.
OMAHUNG WORLD 